Uphill Journeys of Faith

How strange the original Christmas season must have been for the few people who understood (at least in part) what was going on. Imagine the thoughts and questions Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, and Zacharias might have had as the events of Mt. 1 & 2, and Luke 1 & 2 unfolded:

Zacharias: Oh, my Lord, You sure waited a long time to answer my prayer for a child! But maybe that's the way You like to act - waiting until it looked like there was no earthly way for an old priest and his wife to have a child. How come I was not expecting a miracle, and instead questioned an angel about the miraculous? How weak can my faith be, and You still love and bless me??!!

Elizabeth: Oh Lord, I was afraid to believe that it was true – that I would have a child – so I kept myself hidden until I was far along in my pregnancy. I should have believed. Can I do this? I am old, giving birth is hard. Raising a child when Zacharias and I are so old will be difficult. (And then, after the birth) Lord, I'll never forget the joy I experienced when I met Mary who bears the Messiah! I'll never forget the way that Your Holy Spirit filled me so that I could know and proclaim the truth! How suddenly You can change things from being hopeless to filled with joy and abundance! Help me not to fear the future, but to believe that our boy, John, will be a faithful child and servant. What will he end up doing, if he is to be the one who prepares the way of the Lord?

Joseph: Oh Lord, I have been faithful, yet now I have doubts about my wife's story. I trusted her, but she tells me this fantastic story of than angel and the Messiah being conceived miraculously in her womb. I am sorry, I cannot believe her, but I do not want to shame her, so I will quietly divorce her; please take care of her. (And after his divinely inspired dream 2:20, 21) Lord! I am just a simple carpenter, why have You entrusted me with raising Your Own Son?! Help me to do a good job. Why is Your Son not to be raised in a palace, but by a poor man and his poor wife? I know You told me to name the child "Jesus" because He will be the Savior... but how will He save us?

Mary: Lord, I am unworthy to bear Your child, but I am also trusting that Your will is for me to believe that I have been chosen to do this, and that I can do it, with Your guidance and Joseph's help.
Thank you for revelation to Joseph, I was so afraid that I would have to do this alone. You always speak in the right way, and in the right time - help me to always trust in Your timing. And right now Lord, I am struggling again! It just seems like everything is an "uphill" battle - literally! Here we are walking up the long hill to Bethlehem. How come I could not stay in the comfort of home in Nazareth to give birth? Now I am heading to a town that I do not know, and I am not sure where I will stay... and baby Jesus is coming! Lord, don't You know how far along I am? You are in charge of all things, how come You could not have Caesar wait a while for his census? Oh Lord, help me to trust, when I cannot see Your plan, and I am tempted to focus on the burdens, and not the blessings! Lord, it is a great honor to bear Your Son - let me focus on that!

When we get ready to celebrate Christmas, we have the benefit of seeing most of the Lord's promises
already fulfilled. This should strengthen our faith, but sometimes we, like Zacharias, Elizabeth, Joseph, or Mary, get caught up in our own "uphill" faith journeys. We focus on the burdens, and not the blessings. Recently at one of our prayer and pie gatherings, one of the participants prayed to be more grateful. I think every single one of us there that day felt the same way - "That is sure my prayer too!"

Isn't it curious that both the trip to the Christmas cradle and the Good Friday cross - were uphill journeys? Journeys of faith are almost always uphill. That is the nature of faith. But looking back to the account of the first Christmas, we see that the saints of old conquered their doubts by trusting in God's promises, being obedient to His will, and in the end, the fulfillment of His promises gave them a downhill reprieve (at least for a while). As we look at the prophecies of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40 and Malachi 3 & 4), and Jesus' birth (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7, 9, 11, 42, 49, 52, 53; Micah 5:2) These are only a few of the prophecies of Jesus. We feel a downhill stretch. Our faith is strengthened. "Yes... Jesus is the Messiah!" we proclaim with Joseph and Elizabeth. These prophecies are true!

So our Christmas prayer is, "Lord, thank You for revealing Your Son to me! Now let me continue in my journey of faith... even if it be uphill... and let me be obedient, trusting, and grateful, at this Christmastide! Amen!"

In Christ's Joy,

Pastor Foote