I think a lot of us use logic to predict certain outcomes. For example, the probability that you’ll fail a test if you don’t study is pretty high. Or, the likelihood that you’ll remember a task to be done without a reminder on your phone is pretty small. I had the same mindset when it comes to my career and income bracket, when it relates to education as I don’t have my bachelor’s—yet, I would like to make a living wage. The one plus one did not equal 2, as I had come to believe that the only way God could provide for me a good job was with a degree. That’s not the case.
“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:18
In the verse, the most bizarre conception of all time takes place as Mary, a virgin, becomes pregnant by the Holy Spirit. But this happens when she is already engaged to Joseph. I don’t think I need to divulge into the “birds and the bees” conversation, let’s just say that people don’t get pregnant naturally without participating in sex. So it’s safe to say that this situation was outside of the expectation for Mary and Joseph. I found myself in this same situation as I just received a job offer in which most applicants had an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or higher, but all I have is a high school diploma. Though this was a miracle and it should have made me happy, it actually stirred up anxiety which led to me rejecting the follow up interview.
“Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.” Matthew 1:19-20, 24
Joseph was about to leave too, as God’s miracle was outside of what he thought made sense, but an angel of the Lord stopped him in that thought. There were other factors that contributed to why I didn’t move forward in the interview process, but the main one was that I felt out of place. Most of my job experience had been unpredictable hours, excess work and low pay which is common for college students. The benefits being offered at this job, I thought I wouldn’t see until after I graduated college. It felt wrong and out of order, so I declined the opportunity.
However, right after I made that decision it felt like God sent people in my community to address that concern in my heart. The truth is I felt like a fish out of water, because I was outside of the plans I had for myself and I didn’t know what to do. With some encouragement and a new resume I applied to the same job two months later and got the job! Likewise, Joseph took Mary as his wife and became the parents of Jesus Christ, our savior. What a miracle!
You and I have expectations, things that should and shouldn’t happen. All dependent on the things we have, do or say. But I would challenge you to look outside that for a moment and instead look at the Nativity Story through the lens of God bringing our Savior is the most miraculous and unexpected way. Just like Joseph and I, you can either leave because of your expectation or follow God’s unexpected direction and be blessed.
