Life is messy. It’s been messy for thousands of years.
In fact, the first Christmas was messy.
Let’s unwrap it.
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way: After His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child by the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, had in mind to divorce her privately. But while he thought on these things, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for He who is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins'” (Matt. 1:18-21).
This story has a mess written all over it. Girl meets boy. The girl is pregnant, but not by a boy. What? Impossible? Well, maybe not.
Joseph is confused. Who wouldn’t be? The struggle to believe that your fiancé is pregnant by the Holy Spirit is sketchy at best.
This was Joseph’s situation. Joseph did not believe Mary’s story, or he would never consider breaking off the engagement. Joseph is struggling with what God is doing. Have you ever struggled with God’s choices? Joseph is prepared to call off the engagement.
In the struggle, God sent an angel to give Joseph some insight and clarify God’s intention.
The pregnancy is definitely scandalous, but actually, it is a miracle in the making.
Most miracles show up in the middle of a mess.
God expects us to believe in Him without being able to believe in what He’s doing. The first step of faith may not be to believe in the coming miracle but in God, who sent it.
There are countless people in the Scripture who had to trust God more than understand Him.
Your assignment will require you to obey God even you don’t understand.
Joseph would not have chosen this path. Faith requires a willingness to choose something from God that we would not choose for ourselves.
But God’s will is paramount to fulfill His assignment. Have we surrendered our choice and embraced God’s plan? The willingness to live our lives outside of our own will and choose God’s will validates our faith in God.
The privilege of being the Father of Jesus was no easy task, but God chose Joseph to be the husband of Mary and to raise Jesus.
God will make a way when no way seems possible.
True biblical faith will challenge us to see with our spiritual eyes what we cannot see with our natural eyes.
In this Christmas season, are you tested beyond your ability?
Have you ever had to trust God when you could not believe in the circumstances?
That’s messy—so was the first Christmas.
This post first appeared here. {eoa}
Thomas McDaniels is a pastor/writer and the guy behind thomasmcdaniels.com. He has written for ChurchLeaders.com and currently is a contributing writer for Fox News. He is also the founder of LifeBridge.tv and the Longview Dream Center in Longview, Texas. Thomas can be found on social media, Instagram and Twitter.
