Trust and Believe
Posted on Dec 16, 2025 by Shari Van Baale
It can be difficult to trust in God, especially when things don’t make sense or go against what society tells you is right.
This week’s Gospel Reading is Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, focusing more on Joseph. It describes Joseph’s character, saying he planned to wed and divorce Mary because she was pregnant before their marriage. Joseph assumes that because Mary is pregnant that she has been unfaithful. But because he is noble, he plans to marry her so she is not exposed to public shaming for being an unwed mother, thus telling others the baby is his. It says, “Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1:19)
However, just as he decided to do this, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, telling him that the baby is from the Holy Spirit. In the dream, the angel tells Joseph to name the baby “Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us,” and makes reference to the Isaiah scripture, which is our First Reading for this week. Joseph listens to the angel and does what he was told in his dream.
Mary and Joseph had to be frightened by all of the events that transpired. Yet they trusted in God’s promise. In the book of Luke, we hear things more from Mary’s perspective. She is visited by the angel Gabriel and told she will give birth to a son. At first she questions how it can be, but in the end she says, “I am the Lord’s servant … May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)
Matthew and Luke both tell of two young people (most likely in their late teens) who were visited by angels and told to believe in what the prophet Isaiah said in the Old Testament.
I am sure they were extremely frightened but they both chose to believe in what was told to them by angels.
According to the blog Shepherd Thoughts, “The trust exhibited by Mary and Joseph is unparalleled. Their journey involved fear, unknowns, and societal risks, yet they chose to follow God. Their story challenges us to evaluate the trust within ourselves. … As we navigate the complexities of life, the story of Mary and Joseph serves as a timeless lesson. Trusting God involves acknowledging the unknowns, facing fears, and embracing risks. Mary and Joseph's example reminds us that trusting God is not reserved for the extraordinary; it's a daily choice.”
Every day we are faced with choices. Some may be easy and some may be hard. Most of the time, angels won’t come to us and tell us what to do. But if we pray and trust in God, those decisions can be a lot easier.
Shari Van Baale
Salem Communications Coordinator