“6While they were there, the time came for the baby (Jesus) to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Isn’t this how life appears to us sometimes? Nothing works out as WE plan. I am sure that Mary and Joseph planned for Jesus to be born in a “proper” surrounding, in their home where everything was ready to take care of Him and bring Him into this world on the “right foot”. However, that is not how it was.
Because of the census enacted by Caesar Augustus, Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, during the last part of Mary’s pregnancy, far away from the comforts of home. They had to endure what could only be a difficult journey, to arrive in Bethlehem, ready to deliver a baby, but have no proper place to do so, there was no room in the inn. Now the time has come, their only choice was to give birth to Jesus, the King of Kings, and wrap Him in rags and place Him in a manger. I’m sure this was as far from Mary and Joseph’s original plan for Jesus’ birth as possible; however, it was exactly as God had planned.
It was exactly what needed to happen to set the stage for the rest of Jesus’ life, how different could every outcome have been if this one step was eliminated? No one knows, except for God, how different everything could have been, had Jesus been born at home in Nazareth instead of in Bethlehem.
This is exactly how it is with our lives. We plan and work on a plan to make everything “perfect” in our lives, but sometimes the world comes crashing down and cuts us short. The worst thing imaginable happens and totally destroys our plans, our “good intentions”. However, just as God was watching over Joseph, Mary and Jesus, He is watching over our lives. He knows infinitely more than we do what is best for our lives. He doesn’t work in the “short-term” fixes, as much as, He works in the “long-term” solutions. What we see as “stumbling blocks” and “dead-ends”, God sees as “opportunities” and “new directions”.
So take comfort in knowing that your Heavenly Father is in control. That, regardless of the current outlook to our eyes, He is able to overcome any and everything and use it for His glory and His purpose. The reason we have our “failures” is to allow God to work through us for His plan to be revealed and to keep us from heading in the wrong direction, away from Him. So, if you haven’t done so, take time now to speak with God, through prayer. Seek His will in your life, seek His direction and plan. Don’t focus on your current situation of seemingly “failures”, for they are just necessary, temporary “stepping stones” to guide you along the path of God’s extraordinary plan. Let Him take control and you will see, His plan is infinitely more rewarding, infinitely more fulfilling that we could ever imagine. And the troubles we see now were necessary to guide us to where He needs to us to bless us the most. Amen?
Isn’t this how life appears to us sometimes? Nothing works out as WE plan. I am sure that Mary and Joseph planned for Jesus to be born in a “proper” surrounding, in their home where everything was ready to take care of Him and bring Him into this world on the “right foot”. However, that is not how it was.
Because of the census enacted by Caesar Augustus, Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, during the last part of Mary’s pregnancy, far away from the comforts of home. They had to endure what could only be a difficult journey, to arrive in Bethlehem, ready to deliver a baby, but have no proper place to do so, there was no room in the inn. Now the time has come, their only choice was to give birth to Jesus, the King of Kings, and wrap Him in rags and place Him in a manger. I’m sure this was as far from Mary and Joseph’s original plan for Jesus’ birth as possible; however, it was exactly as God had planned.
It was exactly what needed to happen to set the stage for the rest of Jesus’ life, how different could every outcome have been if this one step was eliminated? No one knows, except for God, how different everything could have been, had Jesus been born at home in Nazareth instead of in Bethlehem.
This is exactly how it is with our lives. We plan and work on a plan to make everything “perfect” in our lives, but sometimes the world comes crashing down and cuts us short. The worst thing imaginable happens and totally destroys our plans, our “good intentions”. However, just as God was watching over Joseph, Mary and Jesus, He is watching over our lives. He knows infinitely more than we do what is best for our lives. He doesn’t work in the “short-term” fixes, as much as, He works in the “long-term” solutions. What we see as “stumbling blocks” and “dead-ends”, God sees as “opportunities” and “new directions”.
So take comfort in knowing that your Heavenly Father is in control. That, regardless of the current outlook to our eyes, He is able to overcome any and everything and use it for His glory and His purpose. The reason we have our “failures” is to allow God to work through us for His plan to be revealed and to keep us from heading in the wrong direction, away from Him. So, if you haven’t done so, take time now to speak with God, through prayer. Seek His will in your life, seek His direction and plan. Don’t focus on your current situation of seemingly “failures”, for they are just necessary, temporary “stepping stones” to guide you along the path of God’s extraordinary plan. Let Him take control and you will see, His plan is infinitely more rewarding, infinitely more fulfilling that we could ever imagine. And the troubles we see now were necessary to guide us to where He needs to us to bless us the most. Amen?
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment