Are you in a season of anticipation? Perhaps it is an upcoming wedding, a birth of a child, a new job, or a new house and neighbourhood? If you’re anything like me, you may over idealize or negatively taint what the future may hold.
I remember anticipating and planning my wedding, only to find out that my financé couldn’t get a visitor visa to Canada. Disruption. We needed to re-plan our entire wedding back in my fiancé's home country. We then embarked on a three-year immigration process that required two applications and an appeal. Disruption.
I wonder what Mary anticipated when she became engaged to Joseph. Perhaps, she idealized a quiet life in Nazareth and starting a family with Joseph. But then, she became pregnant by God’s Spirit and was shunned by family, friends and almost divorced by Joseph. Perhaps, she anticipated giving birth at home in Nazareth with family by her side. Yet, she found herself travelling to Bethlehem and going into labour in a stable with no female relatives around. Disruption.
Many times in life we will anticipate how life “should” turn out, only to have a disruption that comes our way. Although I am sure that Mary felt fear, panic and anxiety throughout the journey, she responded in faith and accepted these disruptions as part of God’s plan.
Heavenly Father, when I experience disruptions in my life, I know my natural response is often frustration or stress. Help me look to you as my strength and guide, and embrace such disruptions as Mary did, allowing you to work through each and every circumstance and situation in my life for my good and your divine plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Throughout This Day: Perhaps today you are in a season of anticipation or disruption. As you anticipate, are you willing to hold your plans with an open hand? If you are in a season of disruption and uncertainty, are you able to take it as from the Lord and respond in a posture of faith-filled trust?
Photo Credit: Stein Egil Liland