When I was 8 months pregnant, we went on a double date with friends who had recently acquired a new truck. Despite my relatively active lifestyle, even during pregnancy, the discomfort I experienced in the back seat that night left my back aching and my hip in piercing pain. As I reflect on that small discomfort, I can't help but imagine the immense physical strain Mary endured at the end of her pregnancy while traveling the 90-mile distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem—an estimated 4-day journey. The challenges compounded as, upon arrival, they discovered there was no place to stay. (Luke 2:1-7)
Undoubtedly, Mary's resilience surpasses my own. In a situation like that, I would likely harbored frustration towards God, Joseph, and Caesar Augustus for the demanding census journey.
Yet, as we read Mary's story, it becomes evident that God had been preparing her for this challenging journey:
An angel visited Mary, conveying that she had found favor with God, would conceive by the Holy Spirit, her son would be the Son of God, and her cousin Elizabeth was already pregnant. Mary visited Elizabeth, confirming Elizabeth's pregnancy, and Elizabeth recognized Mary as the "mother of my Lord." Joseph, too, received a visitation from an angel of the Lord, as outlined in Matthew 1:21-23: "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins." This fulfilled the prophecy from Isaiah 7:10-16: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").
Mary's difficult journey was met with the presence of Immanuel—God with her. My hope, drawn from these verses, is that I can endure trials and hardships knowing that God is with me. Whatever challenges you may be facing this Christmas season, take comfort in the assurance that God is with you as well.