Day 2 :: Having a "Mary" Christmas in a Martha World
Jeremiah 29:13; Deuteronomy 4:30; John 16:33; Romans 8:35
“You will seek me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
When I think of what must have been a very draining + disheartening journey to prepare for the birth of Jesus — I honestly can’t imagine how Mary mustered up the strength to set all her worries aside and look at the bright side.
Her husband Joseph wanted to divorce her.
Her baby’s life was in danger.
She was ready to give birth but there was no room at the inn.
How can she possibly find joy in the midst of life’s trials?
But she had to make a choice. To either wallow in self-pity and get mad at God.
Or find joy in the manger.
Well, lucky for us, she chose joy. She chose love.
She humbled herself before God, and put her ENTIRE faith — her whole self — in His Hands.
And what happened next was the greatest miracle ever.
You see, when we place our cares at the Lord’s feet and praise Him and trust Him completely to carry us through our trials — He will bless us far more abundantly than we could’ve EVER imagined.
Think of it this way: since when did God NOT deliver on His promise?
Too often we praise God when it’s convenient. When things are swimmingly perfect. When He's moving mountains for us and we're singing His Name nonstop.
But when the trials come, at best we’re quiet. The singing stops. We wallow in self-pity, distance ourselves — and at worst, we get angry at God.
How easily we forget we have a choice. We have to remember like Mary, we’re called to always choose joy.
Because Jesus is still in the manger. He’s still with us. He never left us.
So we have to cut through the pain, the distracting trials that try to distance us from Him.
And seek Him, find Him, delight in Him.
God isn’t dependent on our faith. But it’s up to us to keep choosing to find joy in Him.
Peace be with you, my gorgeous faithful sister.
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