Monday, December 19 – Matthew 1:20

But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

Have you ever told yourself something like, “If I only had _____, I would be ______”? So often, it feels like the circumstances of our lives get in the way of our happiness, peace, or contentment. If only one thing would change, then we would have no need to be anxious.

Joseph was at a troubling point—he learned his bride-to-be was expecting—but while he wrestled with what to do, God addressed his concerns without changing his circumstances. How could Joseph have peace? Because the Child was from the Holy Spirit, and this moment, as unexpected and scary as it was, was part of God’s master plan for humanity. There are many moments when we think the only way to truly live without anxiety is for our problems to go away or be completely resolved. However, in a fallen world, waiting for ideal circumstances is like chasing after the wind. Searching for the perfect life will never satisfy us because it doesn’t exist. Praise be to God that He offers peace that goes much deeper than the surface. We can live in peace because we have peace with God. We can find joy in all things because we have Him. Even when we face difficult circumstances like Joseph, we can know that there is always hope. That reality changes everything about how we wrestle with the challenges in front of us.

• Have you ever felt like a change in circumstances was the only way to have peace? How did that affect the way you handled the situation?
• What are some difficult things you are going through now? How has Christ given you peace even as you struggle with your circumstances?
• Pray and thank God that Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace, gives peace even in difficult circumstances.