Light in the WaitingJoseph Chooses to Trust God
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Have you ever felt worried because something happened that you did not understand?
The illustrated story
Listen to the story
Read aloud with a generated voice, so little ones can follow along.
Read the story
Joseph was a carpenter in Nazareth. He was a good and kind man who loved God, and he was going to marry a young woman named Mary.
One day Joseph learned that Mary was expecting a baby. Joseph knew the baby was not his, and he did not understand what had happened. His heart was heavy. He sat in his workshop among his tools and wood shavings, and he could not stop thinking about it.
Joseph did not want to embarrass Mary or let people say unkind things about her. So he made a quiet plan. He would end their engagement gently and privately, without making a fuss.
While Joseph was thinking about all of this, he fell asleep. And in his dream, an angel of the Lord appeared to him.
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. The child inside her is from the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 1:20
The angel had more to say. “She will have a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
Jesus. The name means “the Lord saves.” Long before, God had promised through the prophet Isaiah that a baby would be born and be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Now that promise was coming true, and Joseph was part of it.
When Joseph woke up, the heaviness in his heart was gone. He did not have every answer, but he knew what God had asked him to do, and that was enough. He did exactly what the angel had told him. He took Mary home as his wife, he cared for her, and together they got ready to welcome the baby.
When the baby was born, Joseph gave Him the name the angel had spoken: Jesus.
Joseph could not see the whole plan. He chose to trust God anyway, and God used his faithful, quiet obedience as part of the very first Christmas.
What we learn
God understands our worries. We can trust Him even when we do not understand everything, and Jesus came to save His people.
Family prayer
Dear God, when we feel confused or afraid, help us listen to You and trust Your plan. Thank You for sending Jesus. Amen.
A verse to remember
Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife.
Matthew 1:20
Say it together a few times, then see who can say it alone.
Talk about it together
- Why was Joseph worried?
- What did the angel tell Joseph?
- What can we do when we do not understand God’s plan?
Read it in the Bible: Matthew 1:18–25.
Questions or a message for us?
If you have a question about this story, or you would like to share how your family used it, write to [email protected]. We love hearing from readers.
