Most engaged couples want to be known as the “cute couple” in their community. They want to be the couple that everyone talks about—about what a great match they are, or what adorable children they will have, or what a bright future they have ahead of them. Well, Mary and Joseph were probably the talk of their town . . . but not in the way that most couples would want. They were probably gossiped about—Mary for being pregnant outside of wedlock and Joseph for remaining betrothed to her anyway.
Yet, if there was such talk, Mary and Joseph did not let the talk get to them. Each of them had accepted God’s will for them. They were both at peace with their part in God’s grand story of redemption. As difficult as it must’ve been for them to fully comprehend, they were now ecstatic about the fact that they were chosen to the be the earthly parents of the promised Messiah! Like any other parents, Mary and Joseph were most likely preparing their home for the arrival of a newborn baby. Perhaps Mary was making baby clothes while Joseph was carving the baby’s bed. Whatever they were doing to prepare, their preparations were suddenly halted by yet another unexpected rearrangement in their plans.
This time, the news didn’t come from an angel. It came from Caesar Augustus. Luke 2:1-3 says, “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David;) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.” Remember, Mary and Joseph were people just like you. When they received this news, the same thoughts raced through their minds as would have raced through yours. The first things to jump to their mind at this news was probably not, “Oh yes, this is how God will fulfill the prophecy of the Messiah being born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). How amazing is God!” Joseph probably thought, “I can’t make a long journey right now. I have work to do in order to provide for Mary and the baby. And I certainly can’t leave Mary in this condition. How inconvenient!” And Mary may have bemoaned, “I’m expecting to deliver a child any day now. I don’t want to be without Joseph, but I don’t want to make such an arduous journey in this condition. How uncomfortable!” As human beings, what first came to their minds was probably how inconvenient and uncomfortable this latest rearrangement was.
Still, Mary and Joseph did not allow this inconvenient or uncomfortable rearrangement shake their faith in God’s will for them. Mary and Joseph complied with the governor’s decree and made the long, arduous journey to Bethlehem. Just because they obeyed doesn’t mean that the rest of their story is one of convenience of comfort. The Bible tells us in Luke 2:6, “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” If you have grown up in Sunday School, then this verse probably makes your feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It conjures sweet scenes from your Bible story flash cards or the Nativity resting on your grandma’s coffee table. But this was not necessarily a sweet scene for Mary and Joseph. It was a scene of inconvenience and discomfort. Like you would have, Mary and Joseph likely had a general plan of where they wanted to stay while in Bethlehem. The word translated inn in Luke 2:6 is used one other time in the Bible and, in that case, it is translated guest room. Most likely, Mary and Joseph went to a relative’s house to stay in their guest room, only to find that some other relatives had already beat them to it. At that point, Mary and Joseph were relegated to stay in the lower portion of the house—often a room carved out of the side of a hill, much like a cave—where the animals were kept at night. Whatever their plans for accommodations in Bethlehem, it probably wasn’t a cave with the animals. This was most likely not the place that Mary pictured giving birth to baby Jesus. And yet we do not hear about any complaining from Mary and Joseph. They were just as submitted to God’s will now as they had been in the beginning.
Mary and Joseph’s response to inconvenience and discomfort reminds us of a beautiful truth about God’s will. Whenever God rearranges our lives, it is always for our good and His glory. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Joseph and Mary’s stories are ultimate proof of this truth. God’s working in their lives, even when it looked like inconvenience or discomfort, was for their good. As Mary recognized, God’s rearranging her life brought her Savior into the world (Luke 1:47). Joseph also realized this when he obeyed God and called the child’s name Jesus, a name meaning “the salvation of Yahweh” (Matthew 1:25). Their inconvenience and discomfort on the night of Christ’s birth was nothing compared to the inconvenience and discomfort Christ would experience one day on the cross. Inconvenience and discomfort are not the appropriate words for what Christ endured for us. What Christ endured for us, for our good and God’s glory, is well worth any discomfort or inconvenience we may endure for Him.
Sometimes, we may begin with a good attitude toward God’s will, like Mary and Joseph. However, in seasons of inconvenience or discomfort, we may be tempted to doubt God’s will for us. If it feels this awkward and arduous, can it really be God’s will? If it hurts this much, how can it really be what God wants for me? If I’m receiving this much pushback, how can it really be right? Just because things aren’t going smoothly, just because you are inconvenienced or uncomfortable does not mean you are out of God’s will. In fact, that may be a good indicator that you are in it! While it may have appeared to Mary and Joseph like Caesar Augustus was ruling the world, that he was responsible for rearranging their lives, they trusted that their God was ultimately in control. Maybe it looks like some other force is dictating your life right now. Like Mary and Joseph, we need to be able to look past those inconveniences to see the King of the Universe. Look beyond the discomfort to see Jesus. He is the real writer of your story, the real King of your life, and He is a much better King than Caesar.
Dear Christian, don’t allow discomfort to dissuade you from the will that God has plainly revealed to you. Trust Him with the plot twists of your story because He has a purpose for all of it. Like Mary and Joseph, be just as submitted to God’s will in the difficult times as you were in the easy times. As Romans 12:2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” If you are a living sacrifice, then you have no say in the plot twists of your story. If you are living sacrifice, you are completely vulnerable to God’s prerogatives. While this may sound terrifying to our human ears, Romans 12 reminds us that this is the best position in which we could find ourselves. Why? Because God’s will is not something to be feared. Although it will not always be convenient or comfortable, it will always be good, acceptable, and perfect. So, don’t allow your current feelings about your current circumstances to make you doubt whether or not you are in God’s will. Let God’s Word determine that. Then, like Mary and Joseph, find freedom in submission to God’s rearranging of your life.
Next time you are afraid of God’s will, look at the Christmas story. The story of Christmas is about impossibilities that came to pass, about lives rearranged for God’s glory, and about hope finally realized. God only writes good stories. Trust Him with yours.