What I’m listening to: All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

Welcome to Day 10 of our Advent series! I can’t believe we’re in the double digits already!! If you’re up to speed, congrats(!), if not, be sure to check out the previous posts. The first one explains a little more about the series. Now for today’s verses from Luke. 

 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. 

                       Luke 2:1-3 (NIV)

Sometimes circumstances seem out of our control, as well as unfair, or even burdensome. It could be a bad grade on a test, or a troublesome government policy you must obey. Here in Luke, it’s more of the latter. Every citizen had to go to their hometown to, essentially, be counted by the government. Joseph was forced to make that journey home with his pregnant wife, which couldn’t have been an easy task. Sometimes when God tests us, or makes something difficult, he is trying to help us grow. He could be trying to build our patience, humility, or compassion, but in the end the trials He puts us through are for our benefit. We should never assume that God is merely punishing us, but rather helping us to become better followers of Him. 

Prayer Prompt: Ask God to show you the reason behind a trial that you are currently facing. He will not only guide you to it, He will also get you through it.