• Privacy and Disclosure Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Jennifer Hayes Yates

  • Home
  • Shop
  • Faith in Christ
  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Schedule
  • The FOCUSED 15 Challenge

When Life Doesn’t Go the Way We Planned: Lessons from Mary

December 9, 2020 By Jennifer H. Yates 1 Comment

9 Dec
When Life Doesn't Go the Way We Planned

Once upon a time in the land of Galilee, in a small town called Nazareth, there lived a young girl named Mary. She was beautiful with long, dark hair pulled back with a simple ribbon. In those days, when a girl reached her age, her father would begin to arrange her marriage to a young man from a good family.

When Life Doesn’t Go the Way We Planned

Mary adored her father and believed that he knew her best and loved her most. She trusted him to choose the perfect mate for her. So one day, her father came home and announced that the betrothal meal would take place. The betrothal was a legally binding event that could only be broken by divorce.

Mary’s father negotiated the bride price with the groom’s family; after all, her home would lose a valuable daughter who contributed to their household. This payment demonstrated Mary’s worth–that she was a treasure to her family.

On the day of the betrothal, a young man named Joseph set out to Mary’s home, carrying with him the bride price, a gold ring, material for her dress, wine for the vow, and the ketubah or marriage contract.

When Mary opened the door, there stood Joseph–a handsome young man that she had known since childhood. She welcomed him in, butterflies churning in her stomach. The two of them shared a meal and drank the cup, which represented both joy and judgment–joy at the prospect of their new lives together and judgment should either of them ever be unfaithful.

They fed each other bread as a sign of their promise: Joseph promised to provide and protect; Mary promised to care and to comfort. Together they signed the ketubah, sealing their covenant to become man and wife.

Joseph placed a gold ring on the forefinger of her right hand, saying, “By this ring you are consecrated to me as my wife in accordance with the law of Moses and of Israel.”

With excitement and anticipation, Joseph returned home to build an addition onto his family’s house for him and his wife. Mary began sewing her wedding gown. When Joseph’s work on their new home would be completed, he would return for his bride, and the wedding celebration would begin. They were now considered husband and wife, only awaiting the time when their marriage would be consummated, and they would become one.*

Their expectations soared as they anticipated building their new life together. And then…

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’

‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’

The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.’

‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.”

Luke 1:26-38, NIV84

Talk about a change in plans! Mary had been making a dress and preparing for a wedding celebration. Now she was trying to figure out how to explain something she didn’t understand herself. So, she prayed for courage and visited Joseph to tell him the news.

“Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.'”

Matthew 1:19-21

These two had been anticipating a great celebration with family and friends, and now they were facing an unexpected and unexplainable  pregnancy. They had to deal with rumors, explanations to their parents, and the responsibility of bringing the Messiah into the world.

Mary didn’t expect to travel 80 miles with a child in her womb or give birth in a cave with no family around. They probably didn’t anticipate being on the run from Herod with no diapers, no pacifier, and (good grief!) no mama there to help her.

Their world was turned upside down.

Perhaps you have felt the sting of unmet expectations–the sudden loss of a loved one, some unexpected turn of events, a longing unfulfilled. Maybe you feel that your world has been turned upside down and you no longer anticipate with hope and joy.

Perhaps there are empty seats at your table this year, hurt feelings among family members, a lack of funds for gifts, or a sickness you are battling. You feel the pain and disappointment of all those unmet expectations.

The good news for you today is that we know the rest of Mary and Joseph’s story. God is always true to His promises, and His promise of a Messiah who would save the world from sin was fulfilled through the unmet expectations of two teenagers.

Immanuel–God with us–slept in their very arms. God provided a manger to hold His Baby Boy, shepherds to welcome him into the world, and angels to sing His praise. God led them to Egypt and kept them safe. In the midst of their dashed hopes and unmet expectations, God showed up and used them to fulfill the greatest plan the world has ever known.

Their Christmas story became a story of redemption, peace, love, joy, and hope for all the world through Jesus. And their story brings hope to our story. Because we may face some dashed hopes and shattered dreams, but we can trust the God of Mary and Joseph to show up and work all things together for our good and His glory.

Immanuel will be with us, and He will bring comfort in our pain, peace in our troubles, His presence in our loneliness, His joy in our grief. He will take our pain and confusion and questions and disappointment and work them all together for our good and for His glory.

Will you trust God with your Christmas story? Will you trust that your Father loves you most and knows you best?

Because in the midst of your unmet expectations, a Savior has been born. He has come to heal the brokenhearted and to set the captives free. His name is Jesus, and He is here.

*The narrative is my own re-telling of the Christmas story. Much of the cultural context about Hebrew betrothal came from a teaching I heard by Judi Ebert.

Looking for a unique gift for a woman in your life? Give a book that will encourage and inspire! Check out my book, Just Like Us: 7 Ways Biblical Women Were Just Like Us (And Why It Matters).

SHARE THIS:

104shares
  • Facebook 98
  • Email
  • Print

Filed Under: Holiday devotions, Women Tagged With: Bible study, Christian devotional, Christmas devotional, devotional, faith, Jennifer H Yates, Jesus in Our Unmet Expectations, one thing, quiet time, religion vs. relationship, seeking God, spiritual battle, spiritual warfare, the Word, worship

« Rejoicing with Others: Lessons from Elizabeth
5 Ways to Live a Life of Devotion: Lessons from Anna »

Trackbacks

  1. Anxiety, Frustration, and Christmas: More Lessons from Mary - Jennifer Hayes Yates says:
    December 18, 2019 at 9:44 pm

    […] For more in our series, Biblical Women Just Like Us, click here. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

About Jennifer H Yates

About Jennifer H Yates

Hey, friends! I'm Jen--wife, mama, and empty-nester. I love to write, read, and drink coffee, especially with friends.

I've found that many women struggle to find time and focus to grow their relationship with God through studying His Word. I encourage and challenge women with practical strategies and helpful resources for quality study in as little as fifteen minutes a day.

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Advertisement

Latest on Instagram

jenniferhyates

jenniferhyates


What are you getting your mom for Mother's Day? (I
What are you getting your mom for Mother's Day? (It's just 3 weeks away!) ⁠
⁠
How about a book that draws her closer to God?⁠
Drawing Ever Closer: 365 Days of Transforming Truth is a daily devotional that you can start on any day of the year. It takes the reader through the wisdom and poetic books of the Bible--Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. ⁠
⁠
And if you order now, you can have it shipped, wrapped, and ready by May 9. Now, that's you get it done and show mom she's the best. You're welcome. 😁⁠
#drawingevercloser #bedeeplyrooted #mothersday2021 #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus ⁠

You can enjoy this day because the One who made it
You can enjoy this day because the One who made it also made you. And He offers salvation, hope, deliverance, healing, and eternal life. So rejoice! The Lord of ALL loves you. ❤️

Today on the blog, I shared about using the gifts
Today on the blog, I shared about using the gifts God gave us to serve others, no matter how big or small we think they are.⁠
⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
⁠
Click

We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel--the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:1-4, NIV).
All of Scripture, all of history, all of time has been about Jesus Christ, Son of God. 
Do you know Him? You can. His life, death, and resurrection are historical fact. All so that you could know Him and have eternal life.
Jesus loves you! ❤

"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee fo
"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment" (Luke 23:55-56).
Can you imagine the horror these women had witnessed? Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others had followed Jesus and helped support his ministry (Luke 8:3).
Now all their hopes had been crushed as they stood at a distance and witnessed Jesus' agonizing death on the cross (Luke 23:49). His own mother had to stand by helplessly as her son cried out, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
As we women often do, they looked for a way to still serve Him, even in His death, by preparing His body for burial. Sometimes, it's the little things.
When our hearts are breaking and we think we can't take another breath, sometimes we need something in our hands--a burial spice, a casserole, a text that says I'm here.
We can't make the hurt go away, but we can channel it into something useful, something hopeful, something comforting.
As they rested on the Sabbath, I'm sure they anticipated the opportunity to see Him one more time, to minister to Him once more with the spices and perfumes they had prepared.
Hearts crushed, hands open.
Grieved but grateful. Resting but ready.
Because if there was anything they knew for sure, it's that Jesus was no ordinary man. And when hearts are turned toward Him, anything can happen.


Load More...


Follow on Instagram


This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT