“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother, Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately” (Matthew 1:18-19).

Joseph must have felt desperate disbelief at the obvious betrayal of Mary his beloved fiancée. I have often wondered how many times Joseph and Mary had talked of their impending wedding. They must have been excited as they dreamed of their lives together. Even men who do not talk a lot at least think about their life as a married man. Now Joseph’s hopes and dreams were shattered. Mary was pregnant. Joseph knew this child was not from him! He assumed the worst. What else could he assume? That’s the problem! He assumed. God indeed was doing a mighty miracle, but Joseph assumed the worst. As we think of the miracle of the incarnation, aren’t you glad that Joseph’s worst nightmare would turn out to be not only His greatest blessing, but ours as well?

For today: I need to be careful about my “assumptions.” Sometimes what appears to be the worst actually turns out to be the best.