Can you imagine? Your future is set. All the plans are in place. Joy springs from your heart as you look forward to what is coming…then the phone call that changes everything. Joseph did not receive a phone call, but when word came to him, his whole world changed.

Joseph was betrothed to Mary. In the times of the Bible, when a couple was engaged, they were legally bound to one another. To break the engagement was looked upon as a divorce. The couple did not come together as man and wife until a year after the engagement, so hearing of Mary’s pregnancy was a heavy blow to Joseph. Knowing he had not been intimate with Mary, his only conclusion was that she had been with another man. Saddened and hurt by this turn of events, he must have wondered, “What should I do?” Joseph could go public and shame Mary, but he loved her. He knew he would quietly divorce her to protect her as much as he could. Thinking through these things, he was visited by an angel.

“But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)

God showed Joseph exactly what he needed to do. Joseph awoke from sleep and without questioning obeyed the Lord. He accepted the role God had for him and did precisely as he was instructed.

Moments like these happen in our lives as well. Circumstances suddenly change, and we are not sure what we should do. Joseph was met by God and simply obeyed what God called for him to do. This same God will guide us in the role He has planned for us. All we need to do is simply obey.