“But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.”
Matthew 1:20-25 NRSVue
Unsaid but implied in the Christmas story is the way in which Joseph had to decide if to follow God or his religious leaders. Mary’s birth, which today is universally hailed as a divine miracle in the eyes of the Church, was likely seen as an act of rebellious sin in the eyes of Joseph’s Jewish leaders. Where we see a miraculous virgin birth, many who knew the Holy Family saw an unmarried pregnant woman who had stepped into sin.
If the people of God back then were anything like they are today, I expect Joseph was asked a lot of questions, and faced a lot of criticism for his decision to obey the unexpected but clear command of God over the misguided legalism of God’s people. I also expect, if Joseph even had any non-religious or non-Jewish friends, his decision to follow God and abstain from sex with Mary was also likely criticized. Joseph had to accept the damage to his reputation in order to honor his God while also denying himself the pleasure that the world promised would fulfill him.
This year, I resonate with (and am likely projecting onto) Joseph’s experience. In my experience walking with the Lord, I’ve faced just as much mockery and accusations from outside the Church for holding to my religious beliefs as I have from within the Church. When you’re following the call of a God who allows his son to suffer and be murdered, you can expect a lot of grief for listening to God.
As we welcome Emmanuel, we take on his teachings and his tasks to bring heaven close to earth. This means caring for others, even those we disagree with. This means serving others, even those who leave us to die or directly perpetuate our suffering. It also means repenting of and avoiding sin in our own life, ensuring that our lives and choices are sourced in ancient Biblical wisdom, not cultural or current trends. Living in this tension means walking alongside noise and criticism from every direction.
The good news is that God walks with us amid this tension, and that, because Jesus came to earth, the tension isn’t something that is unfamiliar to God. Throughout Jesus’ life and ministry, he pushed back against the religious leaders of his day, as well as pointed away from what the culture preached would bring pleasure.
Jesus’ suffering amid this tension can and should inspire us to continue our walk in God’s calling, regardless of the opinions of our pastors, coworkers, friends, or family members. When God speaks, our job is to listen, even and especially when we don’t understand all of the pieces. Joseph awakes and follows the instructions of the Lord, despite the personal sacrifice, despite the doubt, despite the noise. The call of Christmas for me this year is to be persistent in my yes to God, regardless of the consequence.
I hope you and those you love had a merry Christmas. As you face 2026, my prayer is that you are bold in trusting and following God’s vision for your life, even and especially when the entire world seems against it or is unsure of it. When God is clear, our only job is to answer. May we be bold like Joseph and awake each morning saying yes.
Questions for Further Reflection
- What is God asking of you in 2026?
- Where is doubt in God’s call loudest in your life? How can you quiet that influence?
- Review the full armor of God Paul describes in Ephesians 6. What steps can you take to walk into 2026 wearing the full armor of God?
- Where did Jesus experience noise against his ministry? How does this inform your walk with God?
Bryce Van Vleet is the #1 selling author of Tired Pages and Before We All Die Let’s Have One Last Chat by the Fireside. He also hosts the podcast Death in Dakota, sells poetry art here, and masquerades as the spoken word artist Liihey. You can support him by clicking through blog posts or donating (scroll to the bottom of the page).
Living Beyond 
Leave a comment