And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
-Luke 2:7, KJV
-Christmas upending expectations-
The first Christmas did not go as smoothly as planned.
I doubt either Joseph or Mary had planned to have to take strenuous journey while Mary was nine months pregnant.
Nor do I suspect either relished the idea of sleeping in a stable for the night let alone giving birth to their firstborn among the animals.
I share this as an encouragement to those of you going through a difficult Christmas this year.
Those hard circumstances mean God can relate. And they remind us that God can take difficult circumstances and redeem them into something beautiful.
I don’t know what that looks like for you today. But do not give up hope!
God is in the business of redemption and has been known to overcome even the “meanness” circumstances!
