I'm grateful for the Bible. I am grateful that Jesus is patient with us. I am grateful that He interrupts my boring day to turn my focus on Him. He has so much to say to us if we would just give Him the time. I have been struggling with event that had taken place this year. Wanting to hear from my Jesus that His plan is still here, that I can trust His plan over my own plan.
Tonight, He showed me that I can trust in His plan through reading about Joseph in the book of Matthew.
Joseph's obedience to God is what grabbed my attention. Three time between chapter 1 and 2, Joseph was told to do something that would drastically change his life. It would cause his friends and family to doubt if he was even hearing from God at all because it was "not right" in the sight of society. They would never look at Joseph the same, yet Joseph was not moved by that. I am encouraged that the only true influence he allowed to stir him was the voice of the Lords. I notice many godly qualities in this man that I desire to hold in my own heart.
1. Joseph went with Gods plan over his own plan. Even though he might of been thinking of his own plan, he did not make a move till God spoke to him.
"Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins...... v24 Then Joseph being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife."
Matthew 1: 19-21, 24
Could you imagine what Joseph was going through? Excited to be married only to find out she was pregnant. He probably felt betrayed and angry. He knew this kind of problem meant major consequences for Mary, yet he couldn't carry through with those consequences so he made a different plan. He was hurt, confused, wanting to believe Mary but not able to trust. He just sat in his thoughts trying to decide on a plan of his own. I praise God for His interceding, that we don't need to come up with a plan of action on our own. The angel of the Lord came to Joseph and reassured him of what was going on. That he could follow Gods plan for this very "problem" that Joseph was facing. Joseph woke up and had faith to trust in what God told him. He followed God in staying with Mary. Imagine if he decided to follow with where his thoughts were going. He would have missed out on the major blessing of raising Jesus. It didn't seem like a blessing right away because of the trials he knew he would face. But he stuck with Gods plan! Notice how he didn't follow through with his plan to secretly put Mary away? God jumped in at the right time, and Joseph went with Gods plan. I pray we always chose Gods plan, even if its not popular or if its extremely scary for us.
Go with the plan God has for you. Keep seeking the Lord. Ask Him for boldness to continue in His plan. If its from Him, He will prosper you. Don't be afraid to lose friends or be afraid to start all over again. If Joseph, along with so many other examples in the Bible can, so can we.
2. Joseph trusted in Gods Word. When God said something, he responded with action.
"Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,"
Matthew 2:13-14
Joseph moved as soon as he got up. He did not question God or take what he heard lightly. He clung to every last Word that was spoken. He obeyed quickly. Did you know that the Lord can prompt us? I remember a thought going through my head late at night that I should text one of my good friends to see how my friend was doing. Guess what? My friend was not doing good at all. My friend had just prayed that God would comfort and bring encouragement. She prayed that right before I sent the text, late at night! My friend and I talked on the phone for over an hour just crying, praying, and talking things through together. If I didn't text my friend, things could have gotten a lot worse. If Joseph didn't listen to the dream he had, he would have lost the Child he was entrusted to. If you ever fear if its really the Lord prompting you, pray and take steps towards what you believe He has prompted you to do with the prayer of asking Him to change it if its not from Him. Can we not trust Him to redirect us when we are not going the right way? Can we not trust that if we do something bold for Him, He will be right beside us? There to guide and redirect us?
3. Joseph took steps forward, and when he feared he remembered what the Lord spoke to him.
"Now when Herod was dead behold an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." Then he arose, took the young child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee."
Matthew 2:19-22
So now Joseph is getting the hang of answering to God and taking steps forward. But he doesn't get comfortable in taking steps forward and leaving God behind once he gets the hang of the direction he is going. Notice in verse 22 when Joseph feared because of what he heard. He didn't act off of his fear, but remember what God had spoken to him and simply redirected his steps to match what God had spoken to him. He didn't get angry saying that God messed it all up or get upset because he thought things should go smoothly. Sometimes things don't go the way we plan them, but God knows about it. Listen to His next step/ direction for you and don't worry about the end result. Don't be surprised if you feel God is calling you to do something and all of the sudden you cant do it the way you thought God was calling you. Refocus your eyes on the Lord and understand that God knows what he is doing.
So to recap:
1. Joseph followed Gods plan over his own plan
2. Joseph took God at His word
3. Joseph moved forward, continuing to listen to Gods leading
In my own life, God has been showing me what He showed Joseph. Sometimes its hard to follow with Gods plan knowing it wont be easy. But I quickly came to realize that its so worth it. Long story short, my husband and I felt like the Lord was calling us to live in our van for a season. We struggled with this for months and came up with our own plan because we weren't ready for the responses and rejection we knew would come. We prayed a lot about this because we needed to know it was from the Lord. God revealed to us in a very real way that it was him. Before we even moved in the van, the betrayal hit us heavy. We lost a lot. But we wouldn't turn back now. And I am so grateful we followed the Lord, rather than others opinions and reactions to us. We learned to rely on God so much more, we met really people who are struggling with homelessness, met others who were angry with those who had money, friends, and community. It was heartbreaking but I know now how to pray for them. We would have missed out on a lot of we were to let our job or others opinions and ideas stop us from doing the crazy that that we felt God was calling us to. The experience we had in the van is a personal reminder in my life that its worth it to follow Gods plan, even when it doesn't make sense to us. Because we chose to follow God, it allowed for us to listen for the next step God had for us. To move out of California. We heard God, and He wanted us to act... even though we didn't have jobs or a place to live. God provided for us. He has provided a place for us to live and jobs. Although it was hard and we didn't have a permanent home right away, God never left us. He provided in many different ways. Friends, God will provide for you when you take Him at His Word. As trying and challenging as things may seem, God will make a way. Being here in Colorado has been amazing and hard. God is growing and teach us. We desire more of Jesus.
I am so glad we took this step of faith even though I have my times of fearfulness and sorrow. Fearful that we are further away from what God has called us to do (to serve in ministry), but confident that we are on the right track. We desire to serve the Lord in ministry together, and we were doing that but God called us out of that. Now we have jobs where we don't get to talk about Jesus all the time. But are confident that God is leading us and this is part of His plan for us as we are learning so much in this season. Joseph probably felt this way, thinking that God was taking him back to Israel, he was close to his destination. But as he gets there, he had to switch plans and turn aside to the region of Galilee. It was all part of Gods plan, and Joseph trusted in Gods plan. I too trust in Gods plan for my life. I trust that He can lead me even if I don't get to see the map. He is worthy and mighty to trust with my whole life.
