ADVENT DEVOTIONAL DECEMBER 11: AN UNEXPECTED TURN

Published December 11, 2018 by SMBC

When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, Joseph, do not fear to take Mary as your wife? All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.

Matthew 1:18-22

By Cathy Edwards

What an unexpected turn life brought to these two young people! As we look forward to the birth of Jesus with excitement and anticipation, I am also reminded about how unsettling this experience must have been for Mary and Joseph. We are all familiar with situations where God has blessed couples with unexpected ?bundles of joy,? but this is a whole new level of ?unexpected!?

Job changes, illnesses, hurricanes, losses, new beginnings: all things that can come unexpectedly. Living a Christian life doesn't guarantee a life without twists and turns along the road. In fact, what seem to us to be ?detours? are often God's destinations. God can use the most surprising events in life for purposes we would never have imagined. It's in these unexpected times that we need to dig deep, hold on to our faith, and trust God, just as Mary and Joseph did. This isn't what they expected. This wasn't the plan. They both had questions and reservations, but they faithfully put one foot in front of the other and as a result, they helped fulfill God's will to bring our Savior into the world!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being there when life throws us unexpected turns. Help us to remember during those uncertain times that You have a plan and if we will trust You and stay faithful to You, You will direct our paths. Lord help us always to pray the prayer that never fails- ?Thy will be done!?

Cathy Edwards is a long-time member and Deacon of South Main. She has served South Main in many capacities and is currently on the board of Gracewood, one of South Main's local mission partners. Cathy is married to Brandt and they have two wonderful daughters and sons-in-law and three grandsons; Allison and Clay, Warren and Austin; Elizabeth and William, Owen.