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“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

– Warren Buffett

By Nathan Decker

OK, I confess … I think too much. At least I think I do. When I’m doing a woodworking project, I like to draft up plans even if it is a simple box! When I’m looking at a ministry project or a mission I try to think of all the excuses we’re going to hear for why we can’t do this. Even my prayers to God are often filled with anxious fretting over what word will best communicate to God the author of all languages what I’m trying to say.

One of the lessons I’m learning this Christmas is that actions speak louder than words. Mary and Joseph are both illustrations of this faithfulness. Before the Angel shows up, Joseph is overthinking it. Instead of looking at the positives, he sees the negatives. His engagement to Mary is ruined, everything has gone wrong, and he is looking for a contingency plan.

But then he gets a visit from an Angel in a dream. When God shows him a direction, Joseph doesn’t look back. He’s not worried about what people might say. He isn’t concerned about how much it will cost his reputation, family honor or business. He acts, trusting in God’s as yet unrevealed plan. Mary has a similar conversation with an Angel. Once he answers her question about what’s possible and what’s impossible with God (nothing!), she sets her heart into the direction God has given.

We need a faith that acts more than thinks. When someone prays and receives a message from God about a direction for ministry, we tend to overthink. We worry about everything that could go wrong. We ponder about who might feel left out. We think about all the reasons it might not work. We ask, how much is this going to cost? We seem to want a perfect plan in a perfect world, and this leads to inaction, stagnation, and death.

Joseph and Mary didn’t need a bullet-proof plan before they started down the road to Bethlehem. They didn’t have relatives or reservations at a hotel, but still they went. They didn’t have insurance or a cell phone in case the donkey broke down, and still they went. There was no ‘just in case.’ They had not taken the time to have every potential problem worked out before they left Nazareth. They packed up and travelled to Bethlehem, and even then God pushed them further onto a two-year journey to Egypt after the baby was born! How did they explain that to grandma and grandpa? (Oops, there I go again, overthinking … .)

God is calling us to faith. Faith is not a plan. Faith is a new vision. Faith is waking up and moving beyond thought and into movement. Faith is pulling the trigger and moving in the direction God has led us even though we don’t necessarily see the end game. This Christmas, don’t be afraid, have faith, and listen to God’s call. Discern what impossible thing our Lord is asking us to do. And DO IT! Follow! Totally surrender. After all, it’s what Jesus would do.

“After Joseph woke up, he and Mary were soon married, just as the Lord’s angel had told him to do.”

– Matthew 1:24