Advent Devotional: Day 4
“‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said. ‘In these days He has shown His favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.’”
Life has many twists and turns; things don’t always turn out the way we imagine. We may have dreams that are shattered or surprises that are unexpected.
I can relate to Elizabeth’s proclamation, knowing month after month what it feels like not to be able to get pregnant. We struggled for months to conceive our first child. We experienced the disappointment, the sadness, the heartbreak seeing other pregnant women or moms with children. So, when Elizabeth proclaims the Lord had done this for me, she is expressing her overwhelming joy and complete reliance on God. Knowing it was only by His provision she was able to conceive.
Our second child on the other hand was a complete surprise from conception to birth. We experienced a double curveball of the unexpected. We were surprised when we discovered how quickly I became pregnant. Our great joy however took another turn we didn’t expect when our son was born nine weeks premature with all the complications that come with a preemie.
I recall during this tremulous time crying out to God. I need your help. I can’t do this by myself anymore. I realized I needed the God I had learned about in my childhood. At that unexpected moment I knew it was God’s son Jesus who would carry us through the ups and downs in life. Jesus became real once I learned I couldn’t handle life without Him.
God used both experiences in our life to point us to Jesus. Prior to having children our faith was fleeting. All the unexpected turns caused us to reevaluate who was really in control of our lives. Who is in control of your unexpected life circumstances, you or God? Have you ever cried out to Jesus to save you in the midst of difficult experiences?
At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus who lived in such an unexpected way that He changed the world and still is changing it in the midst of our unexpected circumstances.
“Dear Father, thank You for the lessons we learn in the unexpected turns our life can take. Thank You for Your provision in those turns even when we don’t see them. May we always rely on You in the midst of the
unexpected joys and sorrows. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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