In the Middle of A Mess

I wish I could have seen the shepherds' faces the night Jesus was born.

When the sky filled with the heavenly host of angels, they were extremely afraid. They didn't see the news of Jesus' birth as a good thing in the moment because the situation frightened them. But the lamb of glory lie in a manger not far from their flocks and they went to see him, their long-awaited savior.

No one had thrown a baby shower. Mary had prepared for the arrival of her baby. But a business trip for tax purposes was probably the last thing on her agenda. Riding a donkey most likely would have been her last wish in her ninth month of pregnancy. Lying in a manger doesn't seem ideal by any standard.

Jesus was born in the middle of a mess.

Maybe you feel a little like the shepherds this holiday season. Fear from misunderstanding saturates your heart and renders pain like you've never known. Or perhaps like David, the battles have worn you to a frazzle. Christmas is not neat and tidy. Truthfully, it hasn't been since the first celebration.

In our final section of reading Psalm 18 today, David declares praise and exaltation to God, his savior. Though the battles had been ferocious and life had been far from simple, David's devotion to God's unfailing love serves as a reminder for us today.

He loves us. Oh, how he loves us.

In the middle of our mess, he came down to save us. And although the pain of the world has not yet been wiped out, we have the promise that one day, it will be.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

Pray With Me

God, I trust You to transform my sorrow into joy. When I fall into trials, you lift me up. When I fail due to weakness, you supply strength. When my patience wears thin, you replenish my spirit. Thank you for ushering your joy into my brokenness. Thank you for meeting me in the middle of the mess. Amen.

If you're struggling to keep going in the middle of a mess and would appreciate the permission to ache freely, enjoy the first chapter of Rachel's book, One More Step: Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up for free HERE.