God's Good Plan

"And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant."

Luke 2:4–5

In my morning devotion, I was reminded that God worked out his perfect plan through circumstances that we humans would have deemed as less than ideal.  His perfect Son wasn't born into a privileged or wealthy earthly family.  Instead, God chose Mary, a young teenage bride-to-be, to be the earthly mother of His Son.  And God chose Joseph, a poor carpentar by trade, to be His Son's earthly father.  Mary and Joseph were only engaged when God revealed to Mary that she would have His Son.

Despite this, Mary and Joseph had faith in God's plan.  I would even venture to say that Jospeh had to be a man of incredible faith to follow through with his marriage to Mary.  Then in the final days of Mary's pregnancy, they had to travel to Bethlehem for a census.  They had no choice in the matter - it was the law. 

We all know the story, when they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no where for them to stay except for the inn's stable.  And that is where Jesus, the one and only divine Son of God, was born - in a stable, surrounded by animals, to a young, poor couple who were big on faith.  The Son of our Most High God was placed in a manger - not a bed of gold and fine silk - a trough where animals fed.

But Mary and Joseph still believed.  Despite their difficulties, despite their economic status, despite the conditions surrounding the birth of this child - they believed that God was working on His good plan.

My devotion reminded me this morning that even though we may not see the good in difficulties, we can trust that God is working out His good plan.  Our circumstances may not be perfect.  Our dreams of the future may not come to pass in the way that we desired.  Our plans may even fail.  We may even suffer great pains and hardships.  But, if we are in Christ, we can trust that God is working out His perfect plan for His people.  He will prevail in the end for the good of those who love Him.   

Trust in Him today!  Let Him work His perfect plan in your heart and in your life!
In His Love, Cathy