You Are Part of the Plan

(Matthew 1:18-25 NLT)

Christmas has come and gone.

But for me, something about Joseph hasn’t.

He’s almost a bit player in the Christmas story; kind of an add-on.

Except he’s not.

The gospels record a whole lot about Mary’s thoughts and feelings.

And one angelic visit.

But Joseph?

Not so much about his thoughts or feelings.

But four angelic visits.

Which throws my imagination into overdrive.

Trying to think and feel right along with him in the experience of that first one.

The most startling of all.

The one about Mary and her situation.

Picture air quotes around situation. 

Before the angel appears to Joseph, Mary’s already given Joseph a heads-up.

It feels, though, like he leaves that conversation without having made a decision.

Maybe because he’s the methodical type.

Checking in with the Lord.

Considering all sides.

Weighing his options.

Joseph was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, 

so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

Decision made.

Only it’s not.

Not really.

Because the very next sentence begins with these words.

As he considered this . . .

Joseph still has one foot in the door of decision making.

The word used here for this type of foot-still-in-the-door decision making literally means: 

passionate supposing in a person’s mind and heart producing fervent inner cogitation

Fervent inner cogitation.

Feels familiar.

I have a hard time making big decisions too.

And small ones.

Sometimes such fervent inner cogitation makes my head hurt.

And my stomach.

But back to Joseph.

Right here, right in the middle of his fervent inner cogitation, 

an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream

The angel quotes a verse from the book of Isaiah about God’s big plan involving a virgin birth and then tells Joseph what to do.

Specifically. 

take Mary as your wife

Sometimes I wish an angel would appear and just tell me what to do.

But so far no angels.

Maybe because Joseph’s angel has already said everything I need to know.

Here’s what I mean.

The angel explains to Joseph that everything that is happening is part of God’s plan.

Maybe Joseph understands the big plan, but I suspect he doesn’t.

And that’s okay.

Because that probably isn’t his immediate takeaway.

I picture Joseph barely breathing.

Reflecting on the angel’s message.

Scribbling frenziedly in his journal.

Recording his takeaway.

His tiny part in the big plan.

With an abundance of exclamation marks.

Maybe because that’s what I’m doing as I reflect on the angel’s words.

What would God want me to know?

Barely breathing, I scribble frenziedly in my journal.

Recording my takeaway . . .

• God is huge.
• I am small.
• Yet I am part of His plan.
• Which is exhilarating.
• And terrifying.

I reread the angel’s parting words.

and they will call him Immanuel,

which means God is with us.

And it hits me.

This is everything I need to know.

Everything we need to know.

The answer to every question.

The truth in every situation.

With great relief, I end my journal entry.

Personalizing the angel’s message to Joseph.

Like a love letter from God.

To me.

And you.

In all caps.

YOU ARE PART OF THE PLAN.

I AM WITH YOU.

See you in a couple weeks.

Love,