A Blessing in the Burdens
A Blessing in the Burdens
[Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Winslow E. Dixon and the second post in A Very Diva Christmas. I tried to make all of the posts flow well in the series. Since Alisha Ritchie’s opening guest post dealt with Mary’s response to her pregnancy, I thought Winslow’s take on how Joseph also dealt with the news would be a good follow-up.]
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest
Luke 1:30-32(KJV)
At Christmas time, we are reminded of the miraculous conception of the Lord Jesus Christ. But have we ever stopped to imagine what Mary experienced in order to become the mother of our Savior?
When an unwed woman becomes pregnant, is typically a source of controversy. Mary’s pregnancy was no different. She was a young, Jewish woman who was newly engaged to her beloved Joseph. In Jewish tradition, intimacy before marriage is strictly forbidden. When the angel of the Lord told Mary she would conceive a child by the Holy Ghost, panic must have struck her mind. Even though she was pure, people surely assumed she had been inappropriate in her behavior. Mary faced judgement and rejection during her pregnancy.
Telling Joseph she was carrying a child must have been an anxiety producing event for her. Her entire future depended on whether he believed her or not. If Joseph believed Mary had been unfaithful to him, he could have ended their engagement and had her put to death.
Throughout her pregnancy, her faith was tested immensely. The angel of the Lord told Mary she found favor in God’s eyes, but surely she felt burdened by the weight of the task she carried. The fear of losing her fiancé, the judgement of others and the physical strain of carrying a child must have been overwhelming. Despite the obstacles, Mary trusted God’s plan for her life. Her burden turned into a blessing not only for her, but for the entire world.
Joseph’s faith was tested as well. He must have felt betrayed when he first discovered Mary was pregnant. The idea of an immaculate conception was surely hard to comprehend. When the angel came to Joseph in the dream, he chose to believe the message. He trusted that God was working in his and Mary’s life. He obeyed God and hid Mary away to protect her.
Matthew 1:19 (KJV) “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.”
Joseph not only had faith in God, but his actions were obedient. He stepped into the role of a godly leader and shielded Mary from harm.
In our lives, sometimes we are faced with burdens that God can use for a greater purpose. Times of burdens can lead us to times of blessings.
Romans 8:28 (KJV) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
This verse teaches that the Lord can turn negative events into positive outcomes. A beautiful example of faith is exemplified in Mary’s life. We may have to face dark times, but God always has a purpose for our lives. It is our task to trust Him despite our circumstances.
Winslow E Dixon began writing when tragedy struck her young life. Her health failed and she was diagnosed with a debilitating, painful and life threatening disorder, Addison’s disease. In an ironic twist of fate, her former career in geriatrics prepared her to live the life of an elderly person. Although she could no longer care for her beloved elderly, she decided to create a new purpose. Writing became her outlet to the world. Her desire is to inspire others with her writing and encourage those who suffer. She lives her life with new purpose, to be a light in this dark world. She recently published a devotional journal challenge entitled, Arsenal of Arrows which is available through Amazon, Kindle E-book and Barnes and Noble.
