When the Plans Change
It seems that childbirth often comes at the same time as other life events – a move, a job loss or change, health issues…..we are hard-wired to plan our lives and to dislike our plans getting changed. Re-read the story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, during Mary’s pregnancy and the years of being a young mother.
Scandal
Inconvenience
Violence
Refugee status
Misunderstandings
So many changes, adjustments and hardships. I wonder if Joseph and Mary had to sell the gold, frankincense and myrrh to pay for rent and groceries during the Egypt years – did they speak Egyptian, was Joseph able to work as a carpenter during the “refugee” era? Did Mary have other mom friends to connect with?
Be encouraged that our God is a God who knows that we live in a fallen world. He has experienced it too and is able to comfort us in our trials and afflictions. He is not a God who says that everything we experience is good, but He is God who works for the good (Romans 8) in each and every circumstance we find ourselves in. Cling to that promise – it makes so much difference – to our attitudes, our joy, the spring in our steps.
