Luke 2:36-40
After encountering two prophets who speak about the great purpose their child will fulfill, Mary and Joseph step out of the temple. I imagine their eyes wide with wonder, amazement, and perhaps a little dread as they take their first steps toward home.
They would have to walk at least four days to get from Jerusalem to Nazareth. Did they talk excitedly about Jesus’ future? Did they imagine the great things that he would do to redeem Israel? Did they worry aloud about what it would mean for him to make people rise and fall? Did Mary ponder what it would mean for a sword to pierce her heart? Or did they keep their silence, not sure what to say as they swaddled their baby against the wilderness wind? All we know is that they put one foot in front of the other until they made it all the way home.
We know even less about what happened in the next 11 years, or in the next 18. The only thing that seems certain to me is that their questions and worries never left them. But somehow, they kept putting one foot in front of the other, and because of their faithful- ness, Jesus grew in strength, wisdom, and favor. And I imagine Mary and Joseph did too.
The road to redemption that we are on is also daunting. Sometimes we are excited. Sometimes we are scared. We often have more questions than answers about what lies ahead. But if we have the perseverance to put one foot in front of the other in faith like Mary and Joseph did, we might also arrive at wisdom.
Consider
What small step of faith might Jesus be calling you to take today?
Pray
Jesus, give me the strength to put one foot in front of the other, to do the next right thing even when I don’t know where my path will lead. Amen.