Devotional for Wednesday, December 11th
Today's Bible Reading: Luke 2:1-5
The Christmas story has become so familiar to us that it can be hard to put ourselves in the shoes of Mary and Joseph. When we read the opening verse of Luke 2, it may fill our hearts with familiar comfort:
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
We know how the story ends. That decree will set off a series of events that will lead to baby Jesus cooing in a manger.
But for Mary and Joseph, that decree made a difficult situation even worse. They had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, about a 90-mile walk. And Mary was ready to give birth any day now. The journey probably took over a week, and there was nothing magical or comfortable about it. I can't imagine the fears this couple had. They both said yes to God. Shouldn't that make life easier?
Last year, I watched the movie The Star and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It tells the Christmas story through the eyes of Boaz, a donkey. But what struck me was how three-dimensional Mary and Joseph seemed. The movie portrayed them as very real people with fears and doubts. But through it all, they encourage each other.
As they travel to Bethlehem, Joseph cries out to God, "Lord, I can't do this, alright? I am not the father of a king, just the son of a carpenter."
Mary also has fears but knows that God never promised any of this would be easy. "This is hard," she says. "Trust me, I know it is. Just because God has a plan doesn't mean it's going to be easy, and that scares me."
When Joseph realizes he's not alone in his fears, it gives him hope. He replies, "Hey, I'm scared, too. But I'm here. And I'm yours. And I will give everything I have to keep you and the baby safe."
It can be hard to share our fears with others. We may feel that admitting them makes us weaker. But the opposite is true. When we talk honestly about our fears, they lose their power over us.
How come in every horror movie, the group trapped in the haunted house always splits up? Because the filmmakers know there's strength in numbers. By isolating each character, they are ratcheting up the fear factor.
Mary and Joseph traveled down a scary road together. We go down frightening roads, too. Having a loving community around us can make all the difference. It may not take away all our fears, but a held hand and encouraging word can splash light into a dark room.
So let's be scared together.
Questions to Ponder:
Has saying "yes" to God ever made your life more difficult? How?
What fears are you facing right now? Who can you share them with?
How can you be a safe place for others to share their fears?