The Inn and God's Plan

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

Of all the moments of Mary and Joseph’s life, this would have been the day to call upon the name of the Lord. Right?! Mary and Joseph were weary from their travel to Bethlehem, which could have taken up to seven days. Mary was utterly exhausted and so pregnant, and they just wanted a place to rest their heads. It seems simple. God can do anything. He can surely provide an Inn for them. Literally, any Inn. Like the JW Marriott of Bethlehem Inns. But, when they arrived — they were turned away. And it appears they didn’t fight it.

What we do not witness through scripture, is Mary and Joseph pushing and shoving their way out of their circumstances. It doesn’t appear they felt any sort of entitlement for a favored outcome. And, I mean, they could have. A literal angel notified them that they would be having a baby. And not just any baby, the Savior of the entire world. Mary was miraculously impregnated and yet her husband didn’t pray them towards a certain outcome here, one where they could sleep in a more comfortable environment.

They simply accepted their lot and found a stable to rest. And, Jesus was born where God wanted him to be born; in a manger — a lowly and humble space.

In our fleshly view, these circumstances are terrible. No one would wish their friends to have to give birth in the hay where it smells like manure. Most of us would call down heaven, and possibly start a Go Fund Me, for God to swiftly pull Mary and Joseph out of their circumstance so that they may give birth to Jesus in a plush and safe environment. 

But they didn’t do that.

And I think there’s some truth in this. When our circumstances don’t make sense, or when our situation seems like it’s straight from the enemy's hand, it may not be. It may be exactly what God has for us and it may be best for us to just let it go and trust God with this moment. Maybe we shouldn’t be praying and shoving it away, but rather accepting that God wants us to walk through it for some unknown reason.

Our flesh will always tell us that we should eject from suffering and walk through the easiest of days; but in fact, the Spirit sometimes leads us into deep waters. 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1: 2-4

We are not always* meant to pray and fight our way out of our circumstances, but rather walk through it and lean into the frustration of it all. It is in those moments we see God come through. It’s when we see God carry us through the fire and hold us up in the waters. It’s in these seasons, where we experience his presence in a new and perfect way. 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

I’m not exactly sure of the details of what Mary and Joseph experienced that day, but I know they saw the fulfillment of God’s purposes over their own. And that is a beautiful thing. This life is for his glory and his praise, and we get to partake in that beauty. God had a plan for Mary and Joseph, one that may have been different than their own. And he may have a different plan for us as well — a plan that we would not choose for ourselves or for our loved ones. But, we may just experience his greatest gift and glory by sticking to his plan, instead of clawing our way out of what we, who have a dimly lit understanding of God’s purposes, deem the right outcome.

*Sometimes we are supposed to fight, and fight like hell for ourselves and for others. Ask God what he desires out of you for this circumstance.