Matthew 1:18-21
“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 publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins”.

Has God ever spoken a thing to you, and you believed, received it and stepped out to obey. But alas, with so much opposition and daunting challenges, you are beginning to doubt if you truly heard from God. I have been there and returned. In case you are in this boat, the CHRISTMAS STORY is a good lesson for you today.

God’s will sometimes hardly come easy. You could hear clearly from God and still face stiff challenges.

I don’t want to talk about the frail teenage countryside virgin girl called Mary, whose life was intruded into by the Angel Gabriel. Just how could she believe that which she was told? And you would think that because she was God’s chosen vessel to birth the Messiah, favour and miracles will follow the process of her entire pregnancy and delivery.

BUT NAY!

She had it rough. As rough as it could ever get, carrying out God’s will. You will ask, where was God when there was no room at any Inn at Bethlehem?  What woman will want to deliver her baby, “the so called Messiah” in a den of goats and sheep? With no midwife, and no Mother to hold her hands whilst she groaned to deliver her baby? How more rough and difficult could it get?

And Joseph? Ah, that’s a story for another day. Imagine his frustrations when he couldn’t find a room anywhere to put his wife who was soon to go into labour? Imagine the look on his face when he returned to Mary to say” Dear, I have found a place for you. It’s in the Manger over there. The owner was kind enough to give us space amongst his animals”. Which husband will like to be Joseph in this circumstance?

Ever been in a situation where you find yourself saying to God: “God, I hope you are in this? Because this thing is looking ridiculous?” That’s where Joseph was at this point.

But God is God. The Baby Jesus was born. All glory!!!!.

But, before you could say Alleluia!, Herod came after the Baby Jesus. And Joseph and Mary continued their tribulations on a flight (not on an airplane, but on donkey-back) to Egypt.

It was like a curse:
“May your road be rough”

BUT, they were in God’s will.
Friends, God’s ways are not like man’s ways.
What he says to you, hold on to it. It shall come to pass. 
If it didn’t happen in 2017, it will in 2018.
But? If necessary, may your road be rough, but may your testimony be sweet. 
Selah!

Hear the Psalmist: 
Ps 27:13
“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord : be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord”.