Have you ever wondered what God is doing in your life? Have circumstances come about that don’t make sense to you from an earthly perspective? I know I’ve had times when I just don’t understand what God might be up to in my life.
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1: 18-21
Imagine being Joseph amidst the circumstances of the birth of Jesus. His quiet carpenter life was interrupted by an angelic visitor. His plans for marriage were turned upside down and he found himself at a crossroads – believe the angel and accept God’s mission, thrusting his life into an unknown future, or reject the angelic message and move on with his quiet life. We spend much time considering Mary’s role in the birth, and rightly so, but do we consider that Joseph was also chosen? He had the role of raising, protecting, and educating Jesus. Remember, Jesus was fully man, so he needed the direction of an earthly father.
The song by 4Him, A Strange Way to Save the World gives us an imagined glimpse into Joseph’s thoughts. He had spent 9 months facing questions and side-glances by his neighbors and friends. Even his family probably thought he was crazy for choosing to take Mary as his wife despite the circumstances. He must have wondered, “why me?” a hundred times through those months, but I think perhaps that question developed from a whining tone to an astonished sense that he was chosen above other men he may have felt were more deserving. And then, in a stable in Bethlehem, a long way from home Joseph looks down at this child – God’s Son and wonders again, “why”? What a responsibility! Was he up to the task?
Are you at a place in life where you are asking, “why me” this Christmas? Maybe your question has a whining tone to it. You’re in a place you don’t want to be, especially at this time of celebration, and you can’t imagine how God could have something good planned through your current circumstances.
Perhaps your “why me” comes from a place of believing God is working in your life but not picturing how it will all come together. Maybe you are in the midst of a contemplative Christmas, wondering what the new year will hold. You don’t really believe that God can use you for something important…or you don’t realize that just by serving Him faithfully you are doing important things.
The Christmas story is a beautiful story of God using ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary purpose. Joseph is not mentioned again in Scripture after Jesus’ childhood, but that doesn’t mean he was not still used by the Lord. God’s plan for saving the world was certainly strange from an earthly perspective, but that seems to be the way He works.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.1 Corinthians 1:25.
If this Christmas finds you contemplative or asking “why me?” I hope you will choose to trust God in the midst of it. Press in closer to Him and accept that God’s plan for your life might not make sense to you He wants to use you for important purposes if you allow His hand to guide you.
Blessings to you as you celebrate this Christmas!
Paula
Paula Davis 