Mary Didn’t Know and Joseph Never Imagined

Both Mary and Joseph had some things to ponder.  Even though they both received a clear word from God, neither of them could have ever dreamed what awaited them.  The popular song asks, “Mary…did you know?”  I say, Mary didn’t know and Joseph could have never imagined.  

We often say things like, “I could never imagine facing that,” or “I could never survive something like that.” But the truth is that God gives us exactly what we need when we are faced with the unimaginable…the grace, mercy, strength, courage we so desperately need.  He meets every need in the midst of every situation when we walk by faith through the very thing we thought we could never survive.   When we surrender our will to His, when we let Him hold the pen in His hand and write our story -  It will be far greater than anything we could ever imagine. 

Somewhere this week, someone got the best news of their life. The thing they had hoped and prayed for came to pass and they literally jumped for joy.   But also, somewhere this week, someone got the worst news of their life.  The thing they dreaded happened, and they received the news they never wanted to hear. Someone had a baby this week…someone lost a baby this week.  Someone got married this week…someone got a divorce.  Someone’s cancer is in remission this week…someone’s cancer came back. Someone bought flowers for their sweetheart this week...someone bought flowers for a funeral for their spouse of fifty years.   What do you do with news that changes your life?  

Dawn and I both received news that changed our lives.  Death and divorce changed our lives.  She lost her husband and I lost my marriage. Suddenly everything changed.  Any plans we had made changed…and thought of growing old together changed…we changed, our lives changed, our world changed.  Ever been there? While she did everything she could to save her husband, and I did all I could to save my marriage, ultimately we lost both. What do you do when you don’t know what to do?  Where do you turn when you don’t know where to turn?  What do you say when you don’t know what to say? Where do you go when you don’t know where to go?

Dawn and I both believe the decisions we make today, especially regarding marriage, our family, and our faith in God have the potential to impact generations to come. If either of us had given up on God in the midst of our crisis, If we had made decisions based on of feelings instead of Truth… we shudder to think what our lives would look like today. 

Every choice we make affects the people closest to you.  Bad choices lead to more bad choices and good choices lead to more good. Imagine how the story of Mary and Joseph couldhave ended.  You have to make decisions you can live with…because you will. 

Think about Mary and Joseph for a minute…  Joseph was a fine, upstanding, young man and suddenly the news comes that his “girlfriend” is pregnant. He never signed up to be a member of the Nativity. He could have never imagined 2000 years later he’d be the subject of sermons or the role model for faithfulness.  Mary is a young, humble, and unpretentious girl in her late teens and suddenly she gets the message that she’ll give birth to the Messiah.  Mary didn’t know her baby boy would one day walk on water…Mary didn’t know her baby boy would save our sons and daughters.  But God did.  And He knows about you – and He knows what you face… 

Oh God…But God 

For every Oh God there is a but God.  “Oh God, why me, why my family, why now...”  But God is faithful, and what was meant for bad He means for good.  

What If…Even If

For every what if there is an even if.  What if my husband dies, what if I lose my marriage, what if the cancer returns?  

Even if I lose everything, even if friends turn to foes, even if I never preach another sermon, God is still God and I am still His child.  He is with me…even if.

How…Who

I may not know how but I know Who.  

I may not know how the story ends, but I know one who does. 

…The end of your story depends on God and your decision to trust Him.  Mary and Joseph’s story ended well – for all of us.  Friend I encourage you today, if you’re in the midst of bad news don’t give up. The God of Mary and Joseph is still the same today.  Trust Him.