Worldwide Christmas December 21, 2025 Devotional

MATTHEW 1:18-20 | ¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Joseph is asked by God to do something excessive, well beyond the bonds of law, custom, and expectation. He must trust a plan he does not understand. He must accept a role he felt unprepared for—father to a Savior. He must put Mary and Jesus ahead of his own interests. He must be willing to suffer in silence some humiliation in his village, some whispering, accusation, and laughter, for the true story is too incredible to share. He must go beyond the typical thing, beyond the generous thing, and pursue the radical action that requires great mercy and faith. He must sacrifice his own picture of his future for a different one entirely.

The next part of this passage describes Joseph's positive response to the angel's suggestion. But what do you think he was feeling?

Have you ever trusted God when you didn’t understand His plan?

Gracious God,

Make Your will plain to us and grant us the courage to trust Your will, even when we can’t fully grasp it.

Amen.