“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.” – Luke 2:1-3


If you have a younger brother or sister, you might remember some excitement and anxiety as your parents waited for this new baby to come into the world. As a parent, I can’t describe to you how nerve-wracking it is leading up to your child being born. In a day with modern medicine, technology, and hospitals, we have it pretty easy when it comes to having babies.


Read Luke 2:1–3. In the days of Mary and Joseph, it wasn't anywhere near as easy. It was also not too pleasant that they were on the road, away from home, with nowhere to stay. I can’t imagine just how anxious and afraid they were as they waited for Jesus to be born.


Sometimes, we find ourselves waiting for God to come into our situations. We wait nervously, trusting that God has a plan and will do what He needs to do. But it can be so nerve-wracking and full of fear and anxiety. As believers, we have faith that God will not leave us out to dry. But sometimes, waiting drives us crazy. When I'm in these situations, I can’t help but think of Mary and Joseph on that night so long ago. Waiting. Waiting. And waiting some more. They just had to wait for what God was going to do.


Amid a very scary time in history and a very scary part of the world, all they could do was wait for the miracle that God was going to perform in their lives. On this Christmas Eve, I encourage you, even as you wait for the fun day that tomorrow will bring, to think about how Mary and Joseph waited and trusted that God would work in their world.



QUESTIONS:


What makes waiting on and trusting God to work in your life so hard?


If you were Mary or Joseph, what would you have been thinking in that moment?