The Nagging Doubts of Christmas

“How can this be?”

In the Christmas story, despite her being for us an overwhelmingly positive example of trust in God, Mary is understandably perplexed (Luke 1:34). Mary “has not known a man,” yet Gabriel has just announced that she will give birth to a son. If you’re familiar with the story, then you know that Mary receives an immediate explanation, as the angel goes on to describe the miraculous conception of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But I don’t have to tell you how many times in life our thoughts of “How can this be?” have to linger without any resolution whatsoever. Even in the case of Mary, when she and Joseph present the infant Jesus in the temple just a few weeks later, we are reminded that this will not be an easy road – for her or for Joseph. In Simeon’s prophecy (Luke 2:35), Mary is told of the sorrows that are coming along her path: “A sword will pierce through your own soul.” Flowing specifically from her relationship to Christ, Mary will have to suffer some intense personal pain. For her, there will be more than one “How can this be?” along the way, and many of them will feel very unresolved.

The same will be true for us, friends. Our “How can this be?” times are coming. Perhaps you’re there today.

Let’s face it. Were it the will of God, He could resolve every one of our doubts instantaneously. But that’s not how the Lord sovereignly operates. The Apostle Paul reminds the church in every generation (Philippians 1:29): “It has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” When we think of suffering, we often think first of suffering physically. But I’m convinced that many of our toughest and most excruciating battles are fought between our ears. Having to endure such inner pain while still pressing forward – even in the face of serious spiritual doubts – is an important dimension of our growth in grace. God uses all of it for our good and for His glory.

Think about how marvelously rich are the lessons which we learn in the deepest valleys! Our God could sustain us on the mountaintop forever, but He does not. He allows us to sink, like Peter, that we may taste our own profound weakness – as well as the strength that comes only from Him when we are at our lowest. He teaches us to trust Him in all things, and this makes perfect sense, because trust is the native language of a loving relationship. When a relationship is healthy and vibrant, we trust the person whom we love.

Not only that, but the spiritual strength which we so desperately need usually comes to us when we find ourselves in situations well beyond our control. We must never forget the basic nature of the Christian life: “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Certainly our omnipotent God could resolve all of our inner longings and all of our deepest distresses – in the blink of an eye in fact – but He loves us far too much for that. He wants us to know Him more passionately than we could ever have imagined. He cherishes our relationship with Him, on every level, and He prizes our intimacy with Himself far more than some miraculous quick fix of all our problems could ever accomplish.

Fast forward from Christ’s birth to Good Friday. John is alone among the evangelists in telling us that, as Christ is literally dying, his mother Mary is “standing by the cross of Jesus” (John 19:25). I can’t even imagine the emotional and psychological trauma that Mary had to endure as that promised sword pierced her soul that day.

If you and I choose to “stand by the cross of Jesus” for the long haul, it will not happen without a great deal of anguish in our souls as well. In our Savior’s own words (Matthew 16:24): “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” And I’m here to tell you that much of our personal cross-bearing will bring with it some temporal uncertainty … some seasonal uncertainty … and even some long-term uncertainty. Doubts are an important part of the Christian life. Don’t waste them!

Would God really be God if you and I could fully understand Him? You see, the nagging doubts of Christmas are the nagging doubts of life. Don’t let your fickle heart convince you that there’s something wrong with you because there are things you simply don’t understand about the will and ways of God. That’s entirely normal. That’s entirely human. That’s entirely to be expected.

You and I are walking a journey by faith – and not by sight.

“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.’”

Journey on.

Pastor Charles