Fears and Tears

As I enter into the fourth week of Advent, the final preparation before Christmas, I ponder the storms of life. There are many experiences that come up in my life that are difficult and troubling and they lead to suffering.

Often the path to stay on is straight through this suffering relying on God, to face what is happening, to ask for help from those around me, and to journey onward. I am not alone and God places people in my life as a help and support. He always provides for me. He will lead me where I am to go.

My focus this last week of Advent is on Joseph and Mary. Two souls that were chosen by God to open up their hearts and minds that they would be the parents of the Messiah. That they would care for him, nurture him, protect him, and love him; which in turn became so much more. In their love and the love of God, the Light of the world became visible to all people.

Joseph and Mary did experience much suffering and they had to put their trust in God. A surprise pregnancy, talk of divorce, visions of angels, a long journey to Bethlehem and then exile from their homeland.

Joseph and Mary relied on the providence of God. To believe in the impossible because with God, all things are possible. This light cannot be hidden because love shines through the darkness.

All this was happening while Jesus was with them, so intimately and physically near to both Joseph and Mary, as a precious baby soon to be born. What a joy and comfort that must have been. Through the many storms that they had to go through, the infant Jesus was there. What a beautiful joy in the midst of suffering. It is truly a mystery of God.

When I think of their journey, I will have strength to continue. I will not hide from the storm but face it. The storms will come, some will be powerful enough to knock me down, others will be weak and pass by with little notice. God is my shelter and I will not fear.

God makes a way through the storm and my fear turns to trust, my weakness turns to strength, and my doubt turns to belief. Like the bright star shining thousands of years ago, I can see that the Lord is near. He comes as an infant, He comes for all, He loves all, He is the Prince of Peace, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.