Luke 2:21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.

By this point, I don’t think Mary and Joseph even considered any other name! The memory of the shepherds showing up and talking about an angelic herald and choir was very fresh, and each of them had been told by an angel to name the baby “Jesus” just nine months previous. It was part of God’s plan that Jesus wasn’t at all an unusual name, going all the way back to Joshua son of Nun, but it was in this child that the full meaning of the name, Yahweh is salvation, would be fulfilled. Joseph had been told the reason for the name, (Matthew 1:21) but neither he nor Mary could imagine how this baby would “save His people from their sins.” The point is, we don’t know the details of God’s plan unless He reveals bits and pieces to us, but He gives us the privilege of participating in it anyway. We sometimes miss out on blessings by stubbornly insisting on knowing why we are to do things, instead of walking in trusting obedience. God had told Mary and Joseph as much as they needed to know, and they were obedient. Had He told them more, like Joseph would be dead before Jesus began His ministry, and Jesus would be scourged and crucified, they couldn’t have handled it. Not knowing the future is often a blessing! We need to remember that God will never leave us or forsake us, (Joshua 1:5 and more) and that His grace is more than sufficient for us. (2 Corinthians 12:9) If we keep that in focus, then we will be able to walk through whatever life holds, rejoicing to fulfill our part in God’s plan.

I remember my mother’s testimony of being on a plane across the Pacific, flying back to deal with a family emergency and reading the Bible in the Good News (TEV) translation, when that translation was new to her. It renders 2 Corinthians 12:9 as, “My grace is all you need,” and she took that as a direct Word from the Lord to her, and was greatly comforted and strengthened. Thinking back over my own life, there have been a number of things that it was good I didn’t know about ahead of time. My faith was certainly stretched! I need to remember that and allow my faith to grow to cover everything that still lies ahead. I need to remember that God’s plan is good and is for blessing, (Jeremiah 29:11) and walk in joyful anticipation of what God is going to do, whatever things might look like at the moment.

Father, thank You not only for Your plan for me, but for Your patience with me as I have doubted and rebelled at times. It is sometimes easier to remember to choose to trust you in big things than it is in the little irritations. Help me trust You with it all! I ask particularly that You help me trust You in my interactions with the wounded people all around me, remembering that I’m wounded – and a wounder – myself. Help us all trust You enough to let You heal and deliver us, so that Christ may be formed in us, individually and as a body, (Galatians 4:19) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!