Stepping out in Faith

Bible reading: Matthew 1

Thoughts to ponder: Consider the weight of generations of expectation that Joseph was raised with. Did that help him accept his dream more readily? Or did it make him doubt this dream as wishful thinking? Once Joseph accepted the fact that the life inside his not-yet-bride was THE Messiah, what do you think was going through his head?

My thoughts:  If I were Joseph, I would probably second guess myself.  Really? After all these years I'm the man that God has chosen to be His human father? Yeah right!  

Once I had accepted this completely preposterous idea, a flood of emotions:

• Excitement - The promise is finally being fulfilled! I get to be in a front row seat for this miracle!
• Terror - I am going to be responsible for keeping this fragile life safe. I literally have the weight of the world on my shoulders!
• Impatience - I have to wait for this Messiah to grow up?  Where's the miracle in that?  When will He become what He came here to be? 
• Pressure - How can I be the father that Our Father in Heaven would be proud of? 
• Awe - I have been chosen to be a part of this miracle. I get to watch it unfold! 
• Humbled - Me? I am unworthy of this task. Only by His grace will I be able to do this!

I find it interesting that, along with the Advent plan that I am following, I have been answering questions from "A Confident Heart" regarding trusting God in seemingly impossible situations (the passages describing Gideon's challenges were used to illustrate this truth).  I think Joseph was in a similar situation. His humanness was certainly not up to the task of caring for and raising our Lord. But, God was with him (in Spirit and in the flesh!). He stepped out in faith and trusted that God had a plan and that all would turn out OK.  

I've been looking back at situations in my life where things seemed impossible...and yet the Lord used them to create something better.  In nearly all these situations the first thing He adjusted was my attitude.  I didn't trust Him and I couldn't see the positives in where I currently was.

Can you see how Joseph might have been in that situation, too? What would have happened if God hadn't sent that angel in his dream to help him see things differently? Talk about a bad situation! Bride-to-be knocked up and claiming she hadn't done anything to get herself this way? All his plans and hopes for the future dashed.  Hidden guilt that he was going to have to desert this woman that he loved because he couldn't live with the shame of her disgrace.  Hopeless.

But, with a little dream...and a change in perspective...he instead trusted God and stepped out in faith. And what an amazing miracle came from his faith!  It has affected all of our lives.  

How will our choices affect others' lives? What miracles will the Lord work through our faith?

Oh, Lord - You shake me to the core sometimes with your revelations. I am feeling all of the emotions that Joseph and Gideon probably felt. I don't know where you will lead me, but I am stepping out in faith today...because I know you will make it all work for good.  I trust you. I can't see how things will work out, but I know that you can.  If Gideon can step out in faith and fight with only 300 men, I surely can trust that you will work through my minor challenges just as well.  If Joseph can step into the role of Father to God, any responsibility that you give me is surely manageable if I look to you and trust you! And I do trust you. And I love you. Amen.

Blessings and peace,

Leah