“Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’”
–Matthew
1:18-21
Joseph didn’t let himself become overwhelmed by his pain and confusion. Instead, he was proactive in bringing love and peace to a seemingly impossible situation. It’s possible that, from his perspective, divorcing Mary without anyone knowing why would free her to marry the baby’s father and thereby protect her from shame and certain death by stoning. Joseph’s selfless solution meant that he would lose her as his spouse, but he would also save her life. Notice that it wasn’t until after his decision to protect Mary that the angel came to reassure him of God’s plan. Joseph didn’t pray, “God, give me proof that Mary’s telling the truth and then I’ll protect her.” He acted in love and hope for her first; he found a way to bring peace to his circumstances. The angel saw his integrity and love, and relieved him of his fears.
Together, Mary and Joseph held
fast to hope -- the confident trust that God would make things work out for the
best. They let Love be their guide as they gratefully accepted shelter in a
stable, fled from Herod, and returned to Galilee to raise the child Jesus. Hope
was their inspiration, Love led the way, and Peace followed.
If you’re struggling, resist
the temptation to let fear and anxiety overpower you. Feel them, and then place
your hope in the Prince of Peace. Follow Joseph’s example: find a way to be
proactive, and bring love and peace to the situation. Let God’s Love guide your
actions, one step at a time. Trust that He may want to accomplish something
through you and your circumstances.
“May the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace as you
trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.” –Romans 15:13
“Lord, inspire me to bring peace to even my
most difficult circumstances.”
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