4 Inspiring Lessons from Mary and Joseph's Faithfulness
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As Christmas nears, and we ready our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we can find encouragement from the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph. In all reality, Christmas may not seem as bright and cheery this year, but we would be wise to acknowledge that neither were significant aspects of the very first Christmas.
Have you ever tried putting yourself in the shoes of Mary and Joseph when you read the gospels? Perhaps you can hardly imagine what it must have been like for them to learn of Mary’s pregnancy, to have angelic beings visit them with indescribable news, and to then live each day in the reality of being parents to the child who was born in such miraculous circumstances. The faithfulness of Mary and Joseph rises up from the gospels as great encouragement to believers.
The biblical account of Jesus’ birth was miraculous and intense, indeed, but when we take a closer look at the Gospels, we find that it was the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph that played a key role in these spectacular events coming to pass. Their faithfulness was a channel through which God accomplished something bigger than the both of them. This Christmas, as we celebrate differently, and experience various trials and challenges, we can look to Mary and Joseph, who endured a variety of trials and hardships, to find encouragement and hold onto the hope we have in Jesus.
1. Cling to Faith in Less-Than-Ideal Circumstances
Though Mary and Joseph’s circumstances were not ideal, God still chose them because of their faithfulness.
“The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus’” (Luke 1:30-31).
Mary was set to be married to Joseph when the angel of the Lord came to tell her of the news that she would miraculously conceive and give birth to a son. She would name him Jesus, and he would be the Son of the Most High. She was a young virgin betrothed to Joseph and was suddenly found to be with child. Mary was not prominent, she lived in a small town, and certainly she never expected to take part in something that would change the whole course of humanity.
It was Mary’s faithfulness that gave her favor with God. As a result, God chose her for this crucial part of his plan: Jesus coming to save the world. Perhaps you view your own status as similar to Mary’s. God uses the Marys of the world, seemingly regular folks like you and I living in rough conditions, to accomplish his big, good, and perfect will.
Though your circumstances may not be ideal this Christmas, as a believer you are still part of furthering God’s kingdom. Just like Mary and Joseph, it is our faithfulness – not our status, or wealth, or reputation – that gives us favor with God. God will still do mighty things in us and through us this Christmas season because of our faithfulness. May we keep our hearts ready for what God is calling us to do.
Photo credit: Unsplash/David Beale
2. Humbly Trust in God
Mary’s faithfulness endured and she surrendered to God’s perfect plan.
“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38).
Having received the most radical news of her life up until that moment, being told that she would miraculously conceive and give birth to a son, Mary’s faithfulness helps her rise to the occasion and she completely surrenders to the word of God. She had no idea what was to come, or what everything the angel said would mean, but she trusted God and in humility, embraced his plans for her.
Even when we do not know the outcome of the path God has us on, we can trust him. We can completely surrender to God as the year comes to an end, and allow him to lead us and guide our steps as we look for peace and joy this Christmas. Like Mary and Joseph, we can remain faithful to God, even if we do not know what the end of the journey will hold or what the big picture is. May our faith endure every situation and cause us to surrender to God.
3. Follow God’s Plan, Not Your Own
Joseph’s faithfulness to the word of the Lord opened his heart to God’s plans.
“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.’ … When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matthew 1:19-21, 24).
Most of the Gospel accounts of the events leading up to the birth of Jesus focus on Mary and how she responded to what God had called her to. When we read of Joseph’s experience, we come to learn of this faithful man of God who was able to change his plans to stay in line with God’s will for him.
When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, he made a plan to do what he believed would be the best thing: divorce her quietly and preserve her honor by keeping the whole situation quiet. God had a different plan for Joseph, though, and sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to let him know what to do. Joseph knew this dream was from the Lord and he had kept his heart open to what God wanted from him.
Like Joseph, we can adapt when we realize our plans this year may have to change because God has something different for us. We can abandon our agendas and instead follow God’s perfect path this Christmas season and into the new year. Joseph’s ability to let God take the lead is a beautiful and encouraging moment that we can learn from. Though we may have our plans in place, it is important to keep our hearts open to where God may tell us to take a turn and do something different. Just as Joseph trusted God, we too can trust God this Christmas season and follow his leading. God gave Joseph peace and strength to follow this new plan. May God grant that same peace and strength for those of us who remain faithful to him.
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4. Praise God in the Uncertainty
Mary’s faith motivated her to worship the Lord in the unknown.
“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth, all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name’” (Luke 1:46-49).
As we read Mary’s response to what was to come, we get a better understanding of her deep faithfulness. She was put into a situation that must have felt scary and overwhelming. This year, each of us has faced plenty of unpredictability with fear and anxiety rising. We have felt overwhelmed at times.
Like Mary, we can pause in the uncertainty and praise the Lord for his goodness and mercy. We can praise him for continuing to use us to further his kingdom. We can worship him for his unconditional love. We may not yet know what this Christmas season will bring, but we can still worship our Lord and Savior, and find joy and hope in remembering the birth of Jesus. Though this year has felt hard for each of us in unique ways, may we trust that God is still doing great things for us and bring worshipful hearts before him.
The faithfulness of Mary and Joseph that we read about in the Gospel accounts of the events leading up to Jesus’ birth is inspiring. We can find encouragement from the lives they lived and the faith they held onto regardless of what they faced. May we all find ways to hold onto our faith in God and cling to him in every situation.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Boonyachoat
This article is part of our larger Christmas and Advent resource library centered around the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ!
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