For many people the holiday season can be a stressful time. Some of the issues that can contribute to stress during this season are the busyness of the season due to the extra activities, the extra financial obligations of buying many Christmas gifts, the pressure of high expectations for those hosting family events, potential conflicts in family situations and road trips in bad weather. Many people assume that the potentially stressful issues of this season have only materialized in the modern age. But, as we look closely into the accounts of the birth of Christ we see that stress was also a part of the first “Christmas.”
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph 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 1:18-21 NIV
Joseph and Mary experienced several potentially stressful issues in that season. They faced “family issues.” When Joseph became aware that Mary was pregnant, he knew that he was not the father, so he was leaning toward a typical response of severing their relationship. Mary must have explained to Joseph that an angel from God had told her that she would give birth to the Son of God who was miraculously conceived through the Holy Spirit. But that may have been difficult for Joseph to believe, until he had his own encounter with an angel in a dream.
Joseph and Mary also experienced the stress of “financial issues” and “travel issues” in that season. Luke 2:1 describes a mandate for all people to return to their home town to be “registered.” Ancient records reveal that the reason for this registration was for the collection of a new tax. So they were facing additional taxes. And in order to register, they had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, ninety miles away; which was a three day journey over difficult terrain with Mary who was about to give birth.
But even though Joseph and Mary encountered stressful situations— they chose not to focus on their “stressing” but rather on their “blessing.” The above verses in Matthew reveal that God was speaking and working His plans in their lives. And they accepted the Lord’s challenge to believe His Word, trust in Him and surrender to His plan. God’s agenda was the highest priority of everything that occurred because it led to the “world changing” announcement in Luke 2:11, “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”
So, in this season, how do we successfully focus on the blessing of our Savior instead of the stress of the season? We can take our cues from Joseph and Mary and do what they did.
- Listen for God to speak into our lives
- Surrender to the Lord’s agenda
- Follow God’s instructions
If we do these three vital things that Joseph and Mary did, I believe that we will experience a wonderful season of God’s joy, blessing and favor that will last far beyond the holidays!
