When God Changes Our Plans: Lessons in Trust from Joseph

What if God's greatest blessings come wrapped in plans we never would have chosen for ourselves?

I've been thinking a lot about Joseph lately. Not just Joseph the carpenter, or Joseph the husband of Mary, but Joseph the ordinary man who was asked to do something extraordinary.

Imagine having your life all planned out. You're engaged to the woman you love, looking forward to marriage, a family, and a future together. And then, suddenly, everything changes.

An angel appears in a dream and tells you that the woman you love is carrying a child conceived by the Holy Spirit. And not just any child. This baby is the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of God!  And you, Joseph, have been chosen to be His earthly father.

I can hardly imagine the thoughts that went swirling through his brain!

I wonder if Joseph felt completely inadequate for such an enormous calling. Did he question whether he was capable? Did he tremble at the responsibility? Did he wonder what others would think?

Scripture doesn't tell us everything Joseph was feeling. But it does tell us something remarkable about what he did.

He obeyed.

"When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him." — Matthew 1:24

No long list of questions. No demand for guarantees. No insistence on knowing how everything would work out.

Joseph simply trusted God enough to take the next step.

And that is what makes his story so beautiful to me.

Learning to Trust When I Cannot See

In this season of my own life, I find myself appreciating Joseph's faith and obedience more than ever.

I wish I could say that I have always responded to God's leading with that kind of immediate trust. But the truth is, there have been times when I've wondered if I really heard God correctly. Times when I've hesitated, waiting for just a little more confirmation before taking that next step.

As our family has walked through some unexpected twists and turns of our own, I have found myself learning what Joseph had to learn: to loosen my grip on the plans I thought were best and trust that God sees what I cannot.

And I've discovered something wonderful along the way.

God's patience with me is astounding.

With each small step of obedience, my trust in Him grows. I begin to recognize His voice more clearly. And I am reminded that the God who calls us is also the God who faithfully leads us.

We don't have to see the whole picture to trust the One who does.

A Christmas Story Through Joseph's Eyes

That is one of the reasons our new children's book, Zoom Zoom to Bethlehem—Joseph's Story, is especially close to my heart.

Most of us know the Christmas story through the familiar scenes of Mary, the manger, the shepherds, and the angels. But have you ever stopped to consider what that first Christmas looked like through Joseph's eyes?

What was it like to have his carefully laid plans interrupted by God Himself? To accept the responsibility of raising God's own Son? To lead his little family through uncertainty, trusting God one step at a time?

In Zoom Zoom to Bethlehem, we invite children and families to experience the wonder of Christmas from Joseph's perspective.

As Joseph's story unfolds, we see that every unexpected turn, every challenge, and even the smallest detail is part of something far greater than he could have imagined.And Joseph, through   his quiet obedience, was invited to be part of it.

The Beauty of Saying Yes

I think one of the most important lessons we can pass along to our children and grandchildren is that following God doesn't always mean understanding His plans.

Sometimes it simply means saying yes.

Yes, Lord, even when I don't understand.

Yes, Lord, even when the road ahead looks uncertain.

Yes, Lord, because I trust Your heart, even when I cannot see Your hand.

Joseph's obedience didn't mean his journey would be easy. But his willingness to trust God placed him right in the middle of the greatest story ever told.

My prayer is that Zoom Zoom to Bethlehem—Joseph's Story will help children discover the wonder of that first Christmas while planting a precious truth in their hearts: God's plans are bigger, better, and more beautiful than anything we could imagine for ourselves.

And perhaps, as we read Joseph's story with our children and grandchildren, we'll find ourselves encouraged to trust Him a little more, too.

After all, we never know what beautiful things God may have planned on the other side of our next yes.