He Entered the Mess

He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was obviously pregnant by this time. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born; and she gave birth to her first child, a Son. She wrapped Him in a blanket and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn. — Luke 2:5–7 TLB

As a child, I was always fascinated by the Christmas story: the animals, the shepherds and wise men, and, of course, the baby Jesus. I loved the baby Jesus. Something about a God Who came into the world as a baby was so relatable. It was a beautiful way to be introduced.

As an adult, I still love the baby Jesus, of course. But I am increasingly drawn to the weirdness, the messiness, of the story. His fiancée, who was obviously pregnant. Think about that a moment. This is the way God chose to bring His son — Himself — into the physical world. We really need not read on from there to the fact that she laid Him in a feed box, which to this farm girl conjures slobbery hay and grain at best, cow poop at worst. Because there was no room.

Somehow, this wider angle seems a fitting introduction to today’s world — to my world. Here I sit with laundry up to my ears. A television warning of war. A calendar stuffed full. Kids going four different directions, friends and family sick. Food addiction, bills, and a new semester of classes bear down on me. No room. Messy. Scary. Even embarrassing.

And into this chaos comes Jesus, Emmanuel, to be with us.

—Gwen Ford Faulkenberry

Faith Step: In the moment during your Christmas holiday that seems the messiest, the weirdest, the loneliest, or the most chaotic, pause and say this prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus. Thank You for entering into this place with me.”

Excerpted with permission from Mornings With Jesus 2019, copyright Guideposts.

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Your Turn

Maybe that moment is now. Christmas can be so messy, can’t it? Just like all of our lives, Jesus entered the mess, too. Isn’t that such a relief? He gets it. Let’s pause and pray today, “Come, Lord Jesus. Thank You for entering into this place with me.” Come share your prayer with us today. We want to hear from you!