“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.” (Luke 2:6 ESV)
When a baby decides it’s coming, it’s coming, and there’s very little you can do to stop it. Joseph must have been frantic, trying to find a place where his wife could deliver her baby. Where was there room enough? Who would take them in? Was it clean, was it private, was there a midwife nearby?
I suspect Mary was beyond those concerns. Pain has a way of doing that.
Things were out of control. Except that, of course, they weren’t. God had planned for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, and none of this surprised Him. He was taking care of them, no matter how scary things got. He was with them, and they were not alone.
God is with us, too, when we are afraid and confused. He knows what He is doing, though we do not. He is taking care of us. He will never leave us or abandon us. How could He, when He is the One who came to save us through such a haphazard, frightening birth as that?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, be with me and help me when I am afraid and don’t know what is happening. Amen.
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights reserved
Published December 24, 2021
Reflection Questions:
* What was your own birth like, if you know? Was it calm and planned out, or did things get crazy?
* Why do you think God chose such a haphazard, even dangerous birth for Jesus?
* When you were born into the Christian faith, was it calm and well-planned, or was it (humanly speaking) haphazard and risky?
