Elizabeth Reed guides us through Joseph’s story, highlighting his ups and downs and showing us how we can follow his footsteps and confidently face the future God has planned for us.
ELIZABETH REED
Georgetown UMC
Advent is a time of waiting for the birth of Jesus, yet the hope, peace, joy, and love we look forward to can be mixed with sadness, confusion, grief, and fear. I imagine Joseph must have felt a range of emotions when he learned that Mary was pregnant with the Son of God. If Joseph, the man God chose to be Jesus’ earthly father, experienced mixed feelings about Jesus’ arrival, it’s okay for us to feel a range of emotions as well.
Joseph and Mary were engaged when Mary became pregnant by way of the Holy Spirit. When Joseph learned this, he decided to divorce Mary. We do not know how long he knew about the pregnancy before making this decision, or whom he spoke with while weighing his options. Scripture suggests that Joseph considered societal norms and what would best protect Mary’s reputation, portraying him as an honorable man seeking to do what was good in God’s sight.
During this time, Joseph must have felt sadness and confusion. He had planned to marry her, but now he wasn’t sure whether he should proceed amid the challenges posed by their new circumstances. Joseph must have experienced grief, letting go of the life he had been imagining with Mary. He must also have been afraid, unsure what to do next or how to handle the situation he found himself in.
Joseph was a godly man who wanted to do what was right in God’s eyes. He believed he had reached the best conclusion about divorcing Mary, but after he had committed to that decision, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and shook up his plans.
The angel told Joseph, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife” (Matthew 1:20, NRSVUE). The angel immediately called out Joseph’s fear, then explained to him God’s plan — a plan filled with love. The angel told Joseph that the baby Mary was carrying was the Son of God and would save everyone from their sins. They were to call him Jesus, “Emmanuel,” meaning “God is with us.” Joseph woke up, did as the angel told him, and helped raise the Son of God. In a situation where fear could have taken over, Joseph chose his love for God above all else.
We all have times in our lives like Joseph’s, when we anticipate hope, peace, joy, and love, only to have something happen that brings sadness, confusion, grief, and fear. It could be a memory, a new situation, or the uncertainty of the future. When our best-laid plans change or when we think someone is a certain way and they’re not, fear creeps in and tries to take over. Fear can make us reevaluate and question everything. Fear wants to put a wedge between God and us.
Currently, I am going through a career change and often have mixed emotions as I anticipate what’s next. Deep in my heart, I know God is guiding me, but sometimes I try to figure it all out on my own, just like Joseph did when he decided to divorce Mary. Some days I am really excited and hopeful about where God is leading me, and others I am questioning everything.
My best moments are when I align myself with God. I trust that God is leading me toward a bright future. I settle into the peace only Jesus can give. I step into the joy of living a full life with the Holy Spirit. And I fully embrace the love that conquers all fear. It doesn’t mean I know more about what’s going on; it just means I let my faith in God be bigger than my fears.
We are days away from Christmas. It’s a very emotional time. As God was with Joseph as he navigated his emotions, God is with us. Things may feel overwhelming and stressful at times, but God sees the whole picture and knows how every detail and nuance is woven into our story. God, in the one we call Emmanuel, is with us every step of the way, feeling every emotion and understanding every fear. Let your faith in God be your guiding light, and let God’s love be bigger than your fears, now and always.
Last Updated on January 5, 2026