The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).  

- Matthew 1:23

What God asked Mary, the mother of Jesus, to do was difficult. But, she trusted the Lord. He provided for her and accomplished the birth of His Son, our Savior, through Mary.

God’s plans don’t always make sense to us.

But you can trust that He is at work on your behalf, whatever you are going through.

When you feel alone, forgotten, forsaken and uncertain about what He is doing in your life, remember Mary and Joseph. They, too, felt confused, yet God used them to bring salvation to the world.

If God allowed His Son, Jesus, to be born in the hay and placed in a manger, we can see that His ways are not ours.

But, while we may not understand them, we can rest in that they are always infinitely better than ours. So, as you think about all that Mary went through to give birth to baby Jesus, is there something God is asking you to trust Him for today?

Is there something He is asking you to do that isn’t easy? If so, can you respond like Mary, who said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”? (Luke 1:38)

As you reflect on Christ and His birth in a stable, does it cause you to pause in reflection on His incredible gift to us?

Jesus truly is love come down. He left heaven and all its glory to be born in a manger of hay so that He could bring us the greatest gift ever given — salvation.

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for loving me so much that you would leave your heavenly home to come to earth for me. Forgive me, and keep me close to you. Amen.

With Love,
Sherry Shepherd