Unwavering Faith

I was reading Matthew 1 - The Birth of Jesus and thinking about Joseph and Mary.   I think it’s part of the story we have so often heard that we don’t give it the credit it deserves.  As I thought about this young woman and man the words “unwavering faith” came to my mind.  We often tend to think that Mary and Joseph had to have had many doubts and questions, toward themselves and the Lord.  But the angel came to each of them and said “Do not be afraid…”.  I truly believe that at that point their fearful hearts filled with a peace that passes all understanding and they became willing.  Willing to give up their own wants and desires to fulfill the calling that the Lord had placed on their lives.  Willing to go forward with unwavering faith.

In Matthew 1:24 it tells us that Joseph “did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.”  He did not wait until the birth to be sure that this child was in fact the Messiah.  He chose to walk by faith and not by sight and believe what the Lord had before him.  Matthew 1:25 says that “he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.  And he gave him the name Jesus.”  This shows us the selflessness that his great faith required.  He was now married to the one he loved, yet he had no union with her because the child was to be born of a virgin.

The story of Christ’s birth is obviously an extraordinary one, a “once-in-eternity” kind of one.  But when we think of this couple, their journey and their story, the amount of faith it took, I believe we can find a part of ourselves there.  Many of us have had to walk a long road, we have all found ourselves not understanding the bigger picture, and we will all have the choice to be willing servants of our Lord.

There was only one couple who would get to experience the faith in giving birth to our Savior.  As you can see though, the experience of unwavering faith is one we too can be a part of.  What is your story of unwavering faith?  You may have already experienced the outcome, you may be currently walking through it or you may still be deciding if you are going to take the path.  Share your story of a time when great faith was required (even if I already shared part of it above).  I pray that as you do, God will use you to be an inspiration to someone else who reads this.

If you are ready to step out in faith, I ask that you pray this prayer with each of us who are willing to do so:

“Lord I ask that as we step out into unwavering faith, like Mary and Joseph, that we will go forward in faithful obedience.  I pray that we will not be afraid and that you, Lord, would fill us with a peace that passes all understanding.  I ask for willing hearts, including my own, to give up our own wants and desires to fulfill the calling that you have placed in our lives.  I thank you and praise you for each story surrounding me that I hear of another’s faith.  May you bless each one for stepping out, following You and trusting You.  For those who aren’t sure what path they are to follow, may you illuminate it with the light of Your Presence.  Fill us with the strength to choose You, to choose Your ways above all else.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

“Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7