How tough it must have been for them at times!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13 ESV)

 We can imagine how difficult it must have been for Mary to make the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem when she was due to give birth any day. A 65-mile trek, whether on foot or the back of a donkey, certainly would have been strenuous enough to bring on labor.
 Perhaps Joseph was near the end of his rope also, weary and plagued with doubt. Couldn’t he have found a better way to travel or made the journey sooner? Perhaps he was tempted to despair when they arrived in Bethlehem and found there would be no place for them to stay.
 Mary and Joseph both probably feared at some point that they would fail in the all-important mission they had been chosen for—the mission of bringing the bearer of God’s love and light into a world lost in darkness.
 So much depended on Mary and Joseph, who, apart from their unique calling as Jesus’ earthly parents, were normal people like you and me. How tough it must have been for them at times! Seen in that light, our trials and struggles, as oversized and overpowering as they seem at times, look more manageable.
 We can place our hope in the “God of all hope” who has promised to fill us with His peace and joy. Knowing that nothing can separate you from God’s love and you are never alone in life’s battles. —Lily Sridhar [1]

Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most.—Ruth Carter Stapleton (1929–1983)

[1] Anchor Christmas Peace