Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will direct your paths. — Proverbs 3:5-6
How many times has this Proverb presented itself to you? When I was a teenager, my sister Margaret inscribed this verse inside a Bible she gave me, using her beautiful handwriting, full of graceful angles and curves. I used that Bible for years—through college, grad school, and beyond, and before long memorized that useful bit of Biblical wisdom. Trust in the Lord—He will direct your paths.
I imagine many of our Christmas story heroes may have heard this verse as well. Have you ever wondered how the world would be different today had Mary and Joseph leaned on their own understanding instead of trusting in the Lord with all their hearts? Could we blame them for having made a different choice? Unmarried and pregnant at 13: Without her faith, how tempting might it have been for Mary to hide, run away, or even attempt to harm herself? Apparently cuckolded before the wedding: Without deep trust in God, couldn't Joseph have justified a quiet little break up—or even a vindictive, public, Mary-shaming one?
"Yes," some might say, "but ANGELS showed up to Mary and Joseph, talking them off their proverbial cliffs." It's easy to imagine being faithful to God's will when an angel shows up, telling you exactly what to do. I wonder this: Would God have bothered to send those angels with that guidance, had Mary and Joseph not already demonstrated that they trusted Him with all their hearts? I can't promise this is true, but as a pastor I know says, "You can't prove it isn't." I think the depth of their faith created the opportunity for God to send angels to help Mary and Joseph through their dilemma; to direct their paths by calming their fears and offering practical instruction. I'm sure glad about the way the story unfolded.
Omniscient, creative God, help us find our place on your magnificent roadmap for eternal love and grace. Infuse us with unshakeable faith that your plans for our lives and the world will be fulfilled when we all trust in You with all of our hearts. Amen.
Anne Tülek loves being married to Güray and being Mom to Elysa and Jacob.
