Sometimes I try to think about what it must have been like back when the world learned that baby Jesus was going to be born. I recently read through the Gospel of Luke for Advent, and it struck me how many people had been waiting for this baby, the prophesied Messiah. All they could do was wait, and put their faith in God’s promises.

As I read, I kept thinking about when my husband and I were waiting for our baby to come. We had gone through a struggle to conceive and through that struggle, one common thing my husband and I remember clearly is that we both knew the timing and outcome of having a baby was not in our control. Although we were not living as though we had a relationship with Jesus at the time, there was certainly a surrender on our part. We knew the whole thing was bigger than us. 

I am not equating my child to Jesus, but I have been wanting to write about how God used our life circumstances to advance His purposes. People come to faith in all sorts of ways, just as the people did during Jesus’ time on earth in human form. Can you imagine hearing of His birth and actually being able to see Him? I get chills and tear up just singing about His birth! It blows my mind.

For us, after almost two years, I was finally pregnant and we were overjoyed. But more than the joy was the surrender. We had begun a journey of putting our faith in something other than ourselves, and God used it. 

I truly believe God used our struggle as husband and wife to draw us closer to Him. All the fear, wondering, hurt, anger – it was all used to allow us to come to the end of ourselves and rely on something greater. And then, when we were blessed with a healthy baby girl, relying on God became even more paramount. How could we, in our now accepted limited capacity, truly care for and love this little one all on our own? We knew there was more. 

And there was. There was Jesus. Jesus, who came as a baby to humble earthly parents, and grew as a strong boy filled with wisdom. Jesus, who was the only sinless man, teaching and healing as he walked. Jesus, who ultimately took all the wrath for sinners; crucified, died, buried, and resurrected. Jesus, the perfect sacrifice. 

God used a baby to save His people, then and now.

And He used our baby to point us to Jesus. 

Our faith and our salvation – it came through a baby.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6