All is Calm, All is... not as they planned!
The flights were booked; the rental car reserved. All accommodations were in place... but then life got interrupted. Situations beyond our control forced us to change our plans. “Why didn’t God let us do what we had planned and prepared for?” Can you relate to this scenario?
With that in mind, here’s a question for you:
When you think of the night Jesus was born, what mental imagery do you picture?
Most of us probably envision a nostalgic Nativity scene: a warm glowing stable nestled in the outskirts of Bethlehem under a peaceful starry night. Everything was picture perfect, right?
In reality, this was definitely a “why didn’t anything go as we planned?” situation! For starters, Emperor Augustus decided to conduct a census right around Mary’s due date. Imagine Joseph loading up the mule and taking his expectant wife on an unplanned and very bumpy 90-mile journey. Talk about an unwanted interruption! And then came the emergency birthing suite (a.k.a., barn stall) scene…
King Herod’s plans were also shaken up when the wise men arrived later and inquired about the birth of a King. You can hardly blame his royal highness when he heard these words, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). This news rocked Herod’s world! He wasn’t about to have his power overthrown by some unknown “king.”
Herod’s control was threatened by Jesus. Do we know that feeling? How do we respond when Jesus wants to take control in our lives? Jesus interrupted Herod’s life — and Herod fought back.
By comparison, Mary submitted to God’s dramatic change in plans. She had been filled with hope and joy about her upcoming wedding. The invitations were in the mail. The bridesmaids’ dresses were being fitted. But her life was interrupted by Jesus. An angel delivered the most alarming news Mary could possibly hear: she would become pregnant as a virgin. Her dreams of a fairytale wedding went up in smoke. Her husband-to-be could disown her… she would be a social outcast… perhaps even be put to death.
Her response? She put her dreams on hold to follow God’s lead. Her reward? The joy of a close relationship with the Messiah and a legacy that would last for generations.
Later in His life, Jesus interrupted the world of the Jewish religious leaders. They held firmly to their pious notions. They wanted nothing to do with this newcomer, Jesus of Nazareth. He wasn’t going to steal their thunder! They justified their jealousy, anger, and hatred, even as they plotted His murder (John 11:53). Despite all their studies of the Scriptures and expectations of the Messiah, they were blinded by arrogance. Jesus interrupted their lives, and they despised Him for it.
Christ-followers today can be involved in all kinds of great spiritual things — daily devotions, Bible studies, Christian service — but still reject God’s direction for their lives when it interferes with their own agenda. Are we willing to give God control and trust that the “changes” in our plans are not really changes at all? Can we accept those “interruptions” as the perfect plan God has for us?
Perhaps 2022 didn’t go as well as you hoped. Maybe your life even took a radical change in direction. Sometimes God’s plans are not what we’d ever imagine for ourselves, but submission to them brings true peace. Heavenly peace.
Herod and the religious leaders missed Jesus as Messiah and Savior because they valued their power and kingdom above God’s eternal plan. Take a moment to consider if we do the same. To truly follow the Lord’s lead is to humbly echo the words of Mary:
“I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).
- Ron Reid