While They Were There
And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son..... -- Luke 2:6-7
While they were there.
While they were where? Far from home. Far from comfort. Far from preferred.
Mary was far from home. Far from her mother and friends. She was in a strange place and knew no one but Joseph. Although they did not have the modern conveniences that we are accustomed to, I am sure that Mary would have rather been in the comforts of her own surroundings.
She was near the end of her pregnancy. Her body must have been tired, her feet swollen. It was probably hard to breath, and definitely hard to rest. What she probably would have given to just go home and rest in her own bed. She was miserably pregnant. For those of you who have never carried your own child, please know, I mean no disrespect by saying she was miserably pregnant. I know you would have given anything to experience carrying your own. What I do mean is, there is a point near the end where you are weary, tired, anxious, and your body just hurts all over, or at least it was that way in my experiences.
Certainly Mary wasn't where she wanted to be this close to delivery.
I just can't imagine what was going through her mind. I wonder if she cried silent tears upon the back of that donkey as she journeyed with Joseph just wishing for relief. Wishing for the comforts of home. Wishing for reassurance from her own mother. Wishing for the support from friends and family.
It wasn't ideal.
It wasn't convenient.
It wasn't comfortable.
Then I think of Joseph. He must have been uneasy. Here he was far from advice from his father with no clue on how to be a husband or a dad. I imagine he was much like my own husband in that he would do anything he could to comfort her and provide her needs, but he was in a situation completely foreign to him. He knew nothing of childbirth and what to expect. I am sure he would rather have been at home as well.
Again, It wasn't ideal.
It wasn't convenient.
It wasn't comfortable.
But while they were there.....In the midst of their being out of their personal comforts and preferences, Jesus was born.
Sometimes we wait to be in our preferred places, our preferred situations in life before we allow a new birthing of Jesus in ourselves. We want things to be just right first, then we'll listen to God.
But really, that's not how He works.
Most commonly, He births new parts of our faith and our growth in times or places that aren't comfortable. In times or places that aren't necessarily "home".
I can say that because I have experienced it. I have been through things in my life that I just wanted to go away, that I just wanted fixed, that I just wanted back to normal - home. Each time, when I gave up the fight and let Him be birthed in the situation while I was there, my faith grew. My relationship with Him grew. I grew.
I don't know where you are in your life today. You may be in a very uncomfortable place, you may be very far from home, so to speak. If you are, would you allow Him to birthed in you in a new way "while you are there"?
Your ninth gift this December to Remember, letting Him be born in your situation, while you are there. It really is a marvelous thing.
I would be honored to pray for you if you are in such a place. Would you mind leaving a comment below so that I can pray for you? You don't have to explain your situation, just simply your name and that you would like prayer. I will pray specifically for each need.
Almighty God, You over and over birth Jesus in my life in difficult, uncomfortable, less than desirable situations. When I reflect on that, it really is just like You to do it that way. For when You birth your son in times of adversity, it proves to us how big You are. It proves that nothing is impossible with You. Although I gripe along the way wishing I were on easy street, thank You for placing your hand in my back and urging me to press on so that I get to see You on the other side.
While they were where? Far from home. Far from comfort. Far from preferred.
Mary was far from home. Far from her mother and friends. She was in a strange place and knew no one but Joseph. Although they did not have the modern conveniences that we are accustomed to, I am sure that Mary would have rather been in the comforts of her own surroundings.
She was near the end of her pregnancy. Her body must have been tired, her feet swollen. It was probably hard to breath, and definitely hard to rest. What she probably would have given to just go home and rest in her own bed. She was miserably pregnant. For those of you who have never carried your own child, please know, I mean no disrespect by saying she was miserably pregnant. I know you would have given anything to experience carrying your own. What I do mean is, there is a point near the end where you are weary, tired, anxious, and your body just hurts all over, or at least it was that way in my experiences.
Certainly Mary wasn't where she wanted to be this close to delivery.
I just can't imagine what was going through her mind. I wonder if she cried silent tears upon the back of that donkey as she journeyed with Joseph just wishing for relief. Wishing for the comforts of home. Wishing for reassurance from her own mother. Wishing for the support from friends and family.
It wasn't ideal.
It wasn't convenient.
It wasn't comfortable.
Then I think of Joseph. He must have been uneasy. Here he was far from advice from his father with no clue on how to be a husband or a dad. I imagine he was much like my own husband in that he would do anything he could to comfort her and provide her needs, but he was in a situation completely foreign to him. He knew nothing of childbirth and what to expect. I am sure he would rather have been at home as well.
Again, It wasn't ideal.
It wasn't convenient.
It wasn't comfortable.
But while they were there.....In the midst of their being out of their personal comforts and preferences, Jesus was born.
Sometimes we wait to be in our preferred places, our preferred situations in life before we allow a new birthing of Jesus in ourselves. We want things to be just right first, then we'll listen to God.
But really, that's not how He works.
Most commonly, He births new parts of our faith and our growth in times or places that aren't comfortable. In times or places that aren't necessarily "home".
I can say that because I have experienced it. I have been through things in my life that I just wanted to go away, that I just wanted fixed, that I just wanted back to normal - home. Each time, when I gave up the fight and let Him be birthed in the situation while I was there, my faith grew. My relationship with Him grew. I grew.
I don't know where you are in your life today. You may be in a very uncomfortable place, you may be very far from home, so to speak. If you are, would you allow Him to birthed in you in a new way "while you are there"?
Your ninth gift this December to Remember, letting Him be born in your situation, while you are there. It really is a marvelous thing.
I would be honored to pray for you if you are in such a place. Would you mind leaving a comment below so that I can pray for you? You don't have to explain your situation, just simply your name and that you would like prayer. I will pray specifically for each need.
Almighty God, You over and over birth Jesus in my life in difficult, uncomfortable, less than desirable situations. When I reflect on that, it really is just like You to do it that way. For when You birth your son in times of adversity, it proves to us how big You are. It proves that nothing is impossible with You. Although I gripe along the way wishing I were on easy street, thank You for placing your hand in my back and urging me to press on so that I get to see You on the other side.
