Before Joseph became Christ’s earthly father, his faith went from a state of flux to faithful.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (Matthew 1:18 and 19 ESV)

With Joseph’s heart broken, he felt his only option was to break the engagement. And yet, the New International Version (NIV) translates “being a just man” to Joseph was “faithful to the law.”

But how would Joseph keep the faith when life was inconsistent?

His faithful God sent help. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and calmed his fears. This prepared his heart for what God had in mind all along. (Matthew 1:19-24)

But prepared or not, life’s inconsistencies find us too.

It’s that moment when what we’ve been praying for, working on or holding close falls apart — without warning or without explanation.

I may not have an angel appear in my dreams, but I do have my faithful God’s Word in my heart.

And I see a common theme throughout Scripture.

Faithfulness to God is dependent on our level of faith in God.

Joseph stayed with Mary and delayed their intimacy until Jesus was born. Because when we trust God with life’s inconsistencies, our life consistently shows who He is.

To read more posts in “The Fruit of the Spirit in Christmas” series go here.