Over the river and through the woods…you know the rest of the words, don’t you?
The journey of the holidays can be treacherous at times and exhilarating at others. Yesterday, we went to the grocery store. Easy enough right? The traffic has increased greatly in the last few weeks as more people are coming back to their winter homes. The parking lot that normally is half empty was now almost completely full. People were driving the wrong way in the lanes and drivers’ tempers were short.
We were glad to be home. Safe and sound. Our temperament remained joyful and I whispered a silent prayer saying thank you Lord that I don’t have to go out in that again, any time soon.
Thinking about yesterday’s trek to the store brought to mind another journey that took place in a land called Judea. A young woman, in her final weeks of pregnancy, set out on a trip of approximately one hundred miles. She traveled with the love of her life, a man named Joseph.
They had to report to the government office, along with the rest of their community, to be taxed. Not a responsibility that would have been high on my list right before my due date. But they went.
I’m sure Joseph tried to make her as comfortable as they journeyed and I’m sure she tried to make the best of it and not complain but she had to have been so weary each night.
Do you ever get weary “on your journey”? Life is hard sometimes, it just is. How do we handle it? Do we murmur and complain, thinking God has completely forgotten about us or do we trust and draw close to Him ? In His presence we will find comfort and joy!
“I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there?2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth !3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. 4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. 5 The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. 6 The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. 7 The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. 8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.Psalm 121 NLT
Do you think Mary knew these verses? If she did, I’m sure they brought her strength, knowing that the Lord had promised to keep her from harm.
Trust the Lord with your journey – it may just be a trip to the grocery store or it may be a trip that will change your life and that of your families. Our heavenly Father won’t abandon us.
Enjoy the journey!