Reflections: Mary and Joseph

The following is a prayer and a few thoughts that I wrote out to the Lord while waiting to teach in one of my classes. The story of Jesus’ birth has never hit me in such an impactful way like it has in the last few weeks, and the Holy Spirit used the faith of Mary and Joseph to totally redirect my focus and emotions concerning the will of God for my life. This is straight from my prayer journal, and I want to share it with you.

“I want to leave a faith story behind me. [Check out Joshua 4:1-9] Sometimes I want so desperately to know what Your plan is for me, but I realize that I will never know faith until I have the chance to test it and grow in it. I want to be able to look back and say, “I trusted God with this situation and He did this.” I want to have a testimony in the end of His grace, goodness, and love.

Taipei with some of the "fam bam."

“Mary had no idea what was going to happen to her when she stepped by faith into the calling the angel had for her. She had no clue what was to happen to her. She just knew she was stopped in her tracks and re-directed another way. It could have meant death. It could have meant a life alone and rejected. But instead, You had a plan of LIFE; yes, hard work, but LIFE and GLORY.

“And Joseph! He must have felt as if he was pulled into a plan that was not his own. It must have been hard to think of this turn of events as God’s plan and not “Mary’s fault.” That man must’ve known his God. He must have had to think and CHOOSE to stand by his betrothed- the woman he chose to make him happy- no matter what. He had no clue what his future held. All he knew at that point was that his reputation would never be the same. He was willing to lay down who he was for God’s glory and out of obedience.

“God, You knew. Even this(!!!): Joseph never saw Your ultimate fulfillment of Your plan for Jesus. He must have constantly doubted as it seemed that Jesus just grew to be a good, well-respected man. He probably wondered if all that was even worth it. And Mary! She was obedient all her life to the hand and will of God and then her Son is CRUCIFIED as a low-class criminal. She must have felt like dirt….I know I would. How heartbreaking for a mother.

View from the Taipei IBLP Office.

“BUT, You were directing things outside of their heartbreak and confusion. Plans SO MUCH bigger than either of them could have imagined. They never saw the fulfillment of this glory and ultimate plan…but it happened anyways. Because this man and this woman were willing to do all and anything God asked of them- with no reservations- the plight of ALL MANKIND was (and is) forever changed.

“…Mary probably never saw the fulfillment of her obedience. Joseph definitely never did. Yet they obeyed.

“So…what am I willing to do? Am I willing to simply obey day-by-day; not asking questions because even Mary did not see the fulfillment of the promise? Abraham didn’t see the full impact of his obedience. Moses didn’t. Noah didn’t…ish. These people trusted and obeyed throughout their lives but never received the complete fulfillment of the promise made to them by the Lord. They had no idea their obedience would echo so high and far throughout generations and ages. Therefore, who am I to question You!? Who am I to “seek and find” Your plan and will instead of Your heart? That’s not right or fair. Shouldn’t I just follow and love? You always show me and give me exactly what I’ll need- never too early or too late. You reveal in Your perfect timing, and You don’t reveal in your perfect timing.

“Step by step I am led. You hold things back until your plan is ready to be carried out in my life. You reveal when Your plan is ready.

“Teach me Your ways, oh Lord. You are so good. Thank you. Amen.” (12/13/2011)

“Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38)

Ninteenth birthday dinner at Chili's
in Taipei.