How often are we discouraged because we are in the middle of our story? Especially when you hear of a friend whose story has taken the turn you wanted for your own.
The friend who is pregnant when you have been trying for years.
The friend whose baby was just born when yours is in Heaven.
The friend whose mom beat the disease that took yours.
The friend who just got married when you are still single.
The friend who just got a promotion and you are looking for work.
The friends whose marriage is beautiful when yours is struggling.
This time of year is often called a season of miracles, but it didn't likely feel that way at different points in the first Christmas story. Imagine if Mary and Joseph and company had Twitter at key moments in those critical months:
The friend who is pregnant when you have been trying for years.
The friend whose baby was just born when yours is in Heaven.
The friend whose mom beat the disease that took yours.
The friend who just got married when you are still single.
The friend who just got a promotion and you are looking for work.
The friends whose marriage is beautiful when yours is struggling.
This time of year is often called a season of miracles, but it didn't likely feel that way at different points in the first Christmas story. Imagine if Mary and Joseph and company had Twitter at key moments in those critical months:
Zechariah: I'm old and have no son. Who will care for Elizabeth if something happens to me? Why has God not blessed us?
Elizabeth: My husband can't talk. Will I ever hear his voice again?
Mary: I'm pregnant, and it's not Joseph's baby. My parents will never believe me.
Joseph: My betrothed must have cheated on me. I'll be merciful, but we are through.
Mary: Joseph is filing for divorce. What will I do? How will I survive?
Simeon: Spent another day at the Temple. I'm getting older everyday. Will I live to see the Messiah?
Anna: My days at the temple are full, but my home at night is so empty. I so miss my husband. Why does God still have me here?
Joseph: A road trip to Bethlehem was not our plan right now. What will happen to our home and my job? What about the baby?
Random shepherd #1: Same update as yesterday. Sheep, field, sleep. Repeat. Same old same old.
Random shepherd #2: Y'all, did you see that! Are we going to DIE??
Random Magi: How long have we been on this journey? Are you sure about that star? Maybe we were wrong.
Bethlehem mother: God, why? Why my baby? How can I go on? Where are you?
Mary: On the run with a toddler. Foreign land, strange language, we may never see our families again. God, why?
Elizabeth: My husband can't talk. Will I ever hear his voice again?
Mary: I'm pregnant, and it's not Joseph's baby. My parents will never believe me.
Joseph: My betrothed must have cheated on me. I'll be merciful, but we are through.
Mary: Joseph is filing for divorce. What will I do? How will I survive?
Simeon: Spent another day at the Temple. I'm getting older everyday. Will I live to see the Messiah?
Anna: My days at the temple are full, but my home at night is so empty. I so miss my husband. Why does God still have me here?
Joseph: A road trip to Bethlehem was not our plan right now. What will happen to our home and my job? What about the baby?
Random shepherd #1: Same update as yesterday. Sheep, field, sleep. Repeat. Same old same old.
Random shepherd #2: Y'all, did you see that! Are we going to DIE??
Random Magi: How long have we been on this journey? Are you sure about that star? Maybe we were wrong.
Bethlehem mother: God, why? Why my baby? How can I go on? Where are you?
Mary: On the run with a toddler. Foreign land, strange language, we may never see our families again. God, why?
So many questions from the middle of the story. Not knowing why it is happening, or how you will survive, or when it will change, or where God is in the midst. Christmas celebrates the end of the story, when the miracle is clear. But we also need to remember that the beginning and the middle was a lot like our lives, full of uncertainty.
And we can also remember that the God who carried Mary and Joseph and the others through the middle to the miracle is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. May you lean on Him in the middle of your story as well, and may he give you the peace that comes with faith.
And we can also remember that the God who carried Mary and Joseph and the others through the middle to the miracle is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. May you lean on Him in the middle of your story as well, and may he give you the peace that comes with faith.
RSS Feed
