Before the manger was peaceful and before the story felt holy and familiar, it felt scandalous. In the opening chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph is introduced as “a righteous man” (Matthew 1:19). That description comes before any angel appears to him. It comes before explanation. It comes while he is still confused.

In the Gospel of Matthew 2:12, there is a small sentence that carries enormous spiritual weight:

Waiting on God can often be a challenging journey, one that is misunderstood and sometimes feels like a test of endurance. Personally, I've faced moments where I felt God was silent, times when I prayed fervently for guidance regarding my career and felt as though my requests went unheard. However, as I look back now, I can see that those moments of waiting were transformational.

Most people do not struggle with faith because they doubt God exists. They struggle because life is loud, heavy, and demanding, and God slowly gets pushed to the edges without anyone meaning for that to happen.