A PLAN FOR ADVERSITY

Joseph, her fiance, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. - Matthew 1:19 -

At some point, the conversation got awkward. Mary informed Joseph of the stunning news that she was pregnant. At that moment, the only thing he knew for sure was that the baby wasn’t his. Abstinence nullifies the need for a paternity test. Mary’s explanation made sense in an impossible way. She could be pregnant if God wanted her in that state, but Joseph had never heard of a woman becoming pregnant without a man being involved. He knew that some of the most remarkable women in Jewish history had gotten unexpectedly pregnant, but all of them had had some assistance from their husbands. We don’t know his original conclusions. At worst, he decided Mary was lying. At best, he assumed that God had other plans for her since he hadn’t been included in the process. In either case (or somewhere between), he planned to distance himself from her.

Joseph might have acted out his decision in a number of ways. He could have publicly shamed Mary by rejecting her. He could have demanded that she be stoned as an adulteress. He could have simply left town.

Instead, Joseph planned to act in a way that didn’t violate his integrity or expose Mary to public ridicule. Apparently the feelings and commitment on his side that led to their betrothal were still intact. He didn’t respond to perceived rejection with rejection. Instead, he responded as a godly person in the face of baffling circumstances.

In the midst of a severe personal crisis, Joseph’s primary thoughts were (1) What does God want me to do? and (2) How can I best show mercy and kindness to Mary? He was proceeding truthfully and lovingly when God intervened with a resolution. Joseph’s crisis offers us some insight into how we can maintain joy and direction in the crises we face.

Do we give those who disappoint us the benefit of the doubt? Do we reject retaliation as a primary reason for any action we take? Do we seek to act with compassion even when making painful decisions? Do we seek to honor God with the choices we make? These questions can provide room and time for God to intervene and show us his way. Ask God to shape you into a person who responds righteously to life’s tough situations.

Love,
Yr Chair