When singing the Christmas hymn, “Silent Night”, I have always pictured peace. A night where the stars twinkled brightly, and the cool air was calm. Yet, reality more than likely tells a different story!
The barn was probably smelly and the animals dirty. Did Joseph have to clean out a stall before he made a bed for Mary in the dirty hay? Were they afraid of being caught in someone’s barn? Mary was probably exauhsted and in pain after giving birth!
Despite the reality of the situation, the world looks on the account of Christ’s birth with reverence and wonder. No one seems to dwell on the hardships that Mary and Joseph faced that night. All we see from scripture is their great faith and trust in God.
On a night that was filled with fear, God brought peace. On a night that seemed chaotic, God brought calm. On a night that must have felt lonely, God threw a celebration!
Why not trust God in your lonely, chaotic, and fearful night?
“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. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” – Luke 2:7-16″
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