A Couple Deals With Traumatic Events

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:30-31, 38

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 1:20

Talk about two lives being interrupted! No warning! Unanticipated! Through the years we have added many layers of glamour, mysticism, fascination and romance to the story of Mary and Joseph.  These layers hide the traumatic impact of Mary’s and Joseph’s obedience to God on their lives.

Mary was pledged to marry Joseph. In a culture of close ties and shared homes, her pregnancy before their marriage would be difficult to keep secret.  It would be even more difficult to explain. The penalty for adultery was stoning (Leviticus 20:10).  How did Mary and Joseph share this with their families? How did the wedding ceremony go? What did people say about this couple? How was the young couple treated on the street and in the neighbourhood? 
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There is so much that we do not know but one thing seems to be clear for Mary and Joseph. Both accepted the reality of God’s leading and believed that what God had in mind was good. God has the  same plan for you.  May this truth sustain you in these difficult times.