Latest / Couples’ Journey Podcast Channel / [E88] Couple’s Reflection on Christmas, Part 3: When Fear Meets Faith, Joseph’s Example

Transcript

[E88] Couple’s Reflection on Christmas, Part 3: When Fear Meets Faith, Joseph’s Example · Couples’ Journey Podcast Channel

• 0:00
  What do you do when faced with unexpected challenges in your marriage?
• 0:05
  Welcome to part three of our couples reflection on Christmas blog series.
• 0:10
  Today, Ray shares reflections specifically aimed at encouraging husbands who
• 0:14
  may feel overwhelmed by the complexities of relationships.
• 0:18
  As we look into the story of Joseph, we see how receiving the angel's message
• 0:22
  transformed his fear into action and love for Mary.
• 0:26
  Join us as we explore how embracing faith can help husbands navigate uncomfortable
• 0:32
  situations and foster a deeper commitment to their wives. Here's Ray.
• 0:38
  The story shows that the angel appeared to Joseph and explained the marriage condition.
• 0:44
  Following God's will, we will see that this message didn't just come to Joseph,
• 0:51
  as an instruction for a religious act.
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  Rather, his actions showed evidence of what was in his heart and mind.
• 1:01
  In Matthew 1 verse 19, Joseph is noted as a righteous man who did not want to disgrace Mary.
• 1:10
  In such a situation where Mary's condition could also drag his name into what
• 1:18
  was then considered a disgrace.
• 1:20
  God's righteousness flowing in him resulted in his loving, and caring for Mary.
• 1:27
  Although the Bible doesn't specifically
• 1:31
  mention the exact vulnerability of Joseph due to the situation,
• 1:37
  we can safely conclude from the angel's opening message, don't be afraid,
• 1:43
  that it recognizes humanity, natural response of fear, or discomfort when facing
• 1:50
  uncertainties or difficult situation.
• 1:54
  Particularly during time, the culture was quite aggressive towards women who
• 2:01
  were pregnant outside of marriage, considered unclean and liable to be stoned to death.
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  Deuteronomy 22 verses 20-21.
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  His encounter with the angel led to a more profound understanding of the situation
• 2:18
  and a courageous act for his role in this life-changing event.
• 2:25
  Today, we may no longer be living in a generation that disgraces women who are
• 2:33
  no longer virgins or who become pregnant before marriage.
• 2:38
  However, if we look deeper into today's many relationships, we will recognize
• 2:45
  that this uncomfortable situation has translated into many forms.
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  Those uncomfortable discoveries about a wife can trigger fear.
• 2:57
  Discomfort, or worse, dismay in a husband.
• 3:02
  Surely, every man wants to have a good wife. Our considerable acceptance of
• 3:07
  whatever concerns arise will pass the boundaries we set if we don't see any
• 3:14
  drastic harm it could bring to our manhood.
• 3:18
  When I met my wife, Annie, she was honest and upfront about the bad decisions
• 3:25
  she had made in her life and the consequences she faced.
• 3:30
  I appreciated her honesty, which clearly communicated to me how she wanted to
• 3:36
  change the course of her life.
• 3:39
  Her situation may have put some fear and hardship on her end,
• 3:43
  but I found myself willing to take her despite that.
• 3:49
  As the years went on, I discovered more about her, and not all of these discoveries
• 3:56
  were appealing. Most of the time, they led to very difficult conflict over a
• 4:02
  decade of being together.
• 4:03
  I learned to manage and slowly embrace Annie, but when I came to know Jesus
• 4:09
  Christ, things changed.
• 4:11
  It was only through Him that I experienced a change in how I viewed my wife,
• 4:18
  our marriage, and our family.
• 4:19
  Today, when we face difficulties, we rely on our commitment to anchor our lives and marriage to Christ.
• 4:28
  His grace enables us to have the courage to seek Him and obey Him.
• 4:34
  It's not easy, and both of us have been very honest about how difficult it is
• 4:41
  to be amid spiritual warfare, wanting to obey God, but battling the desire of our flesh.
• 4:49
  Only through His grace and unconditional love does my volition remains in line
• 4:55
  with Him. There are many moments when both of us find ourselves in fear while
• 5:01
  facing certain seasons.
• 5:03
  But, I constantly remind myself how wonderful Father God is.
• 5:10
  We can come to Him for help and guidance.
• 5:14
  Just as Joseph showed evidence of fear, God sent an angel to remind him to take
• 5:20
  courage and to receive instructions on how to deal with the situation.
• 5:27
  Today, we may not be expecting an angel to give us instruction on how to fulfill
• 5:35
  our role according to God's design.
• 5:37
  But let's not forget His promise that we will not be journeying through this life alone.
• 5:47
  It's a matter of how intentional we are in anchoring our minds and heart to
• 5:54
  Jesus and cultivating a relationship with Him.
• 5:59
  Then we will have the opportunity to recognize the instructions He's giving us.
• 6:07
  Matthew Henry said, God's time to come in with instruction to his people is
• 6:15
  when they are nonplussed and at a stand.
• 6:19
  God's comfort more delight the soul in the multitude of its perplexed thoughts.
• 6:26
  God often chooses to give direction and wisdom to his people when they are in
• 6:33
  a state of confusion or uncertainty.
• 6:36
  The term nonplussed refers to being perplexed or puzzled,
• 6:44
  while at a stand signifies being stuck or unsure about what to do next.
• 6:52
  This means that during moments of difficulty, doubt, or indecision,
• 6:59
  God is particularly present and ready to offer His guidance.
• 7:05
  If we sincerely seek God, we will recognize and appreciate the comfort that
• 7:11
  God provides during times of distress and confusion.
• 7:16
  When we are overwhelmed by troubling thoughts or worries, it is God's assurance
• 7:22
  and comfort that can truly bring peace and delight to the soul.
• 7:28
  In other words, divine comfort has a powerful effect when one faces trials,
• 7:35
  as it illuminates the darkness of uncertainty and sorrow.
• 7:42
  Fellow husband, we may be facing many challenges and threats to our marriage
• 7:48
  in today's culture and generation.
• 7:51
  But let's not forget that God is specially near to His people in their struggles and confusion.
• 8:00
  It is truly important to continuously seek God's guidance and comfort during
• 8:06
  such times, highlighting that His support can lead to profound relief and joy
• 8:12
  amidst of life's challenges.
• 8:14
  It serves as a reminder of hope that God can bring when one feels lost or troubled.
• 8:23
  That's Jesus Christ.
• 8:26
  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
• 8:33
  Matthew 6, verse 33.
• 8:38
  Before we close, we want to invite you to engage with us and support the Couples
• 8:42
  Journey blog series podcast.
• 8:44
  By following this channel, leaving comments, and sharing episodes with your family and friends.
• 8:51
  You're helping us in our mission to transform marriages today.
• 8:55
  Your support encourages more couples to seek God's guidance and grow stronger together.
• 9:00
  Thank you for being part of this journey, together, we can make a difference.
• 9:05
  Here's the final part of today's episode.
• 9:10
  Thank you for joining us for this encouraging discussion in Part 3 of Couples
• 9:14
  Reflection on Christmas.
• 9:16
  Ray's insights remind us of the importance of seeking God's guidance amidst
• 9:20
  life's challenges and the value of anchoring our hearts to Christ.
• 9:24
  We hope this message empowers you in your marriage journey.
• 9:27
  Don't forget to stay tuned tomorrow for Part 4 of our series,
• 9:31
  where Annie will share her reflections for wives, offering valuable insights
• 9:35
  for their own journeys of faith and love.
• 9:39
  Did you know that the first book authored by Ray and Annie, titled Couples'
• 9:43
  Journey, Restore, Relearn, Rejoice, has evolved into an inspiring three-book series?
• 9:49
  From book one which they shared, the inspiring narrative reveals God's continuous
• 9:54
  transforming work, showing how even the most broken paths can be made new and
• 9:59
  deeply connected through His grace.
• 10:00
  Book 2 is a comprehensive workbook that serves as a practical guide for understanding
• 10:05
  and living out God's biblical blueprint for marriage.
• 10:09
  Filled with engaging exercises, thought-provoking discussions,
• 10:13
  and personal reflection tools, it empowers you and your spouse to actively engage
• 10:17
  with divine design, transforming insights into actionable steps for every aspect of your relationship.
• 10:24
  Book 3 is a 52-week devotional, your essential resource for cultivating a consistent
• 10:29
  spiritual habit centered around biblical conversation, both as a couple and
• 10:34
  within your small group.
• 10:36
  Each week, through thoughtfully crafted reflections and the unique Drash method.
• 10:40
  You'll be equipped to deepen your connection with Christ and each other,
• 10:44
  turning your marital relationship into a lifelong journey of discipleship.
• 10:48
  Are you ready to truly live out God's design for your marriage?
• 10:52
  The Couples Journey series offers the wisdom, tools, and encouragement you need
• 10:57
  to embark on this incredible path of restoration, relearning, and rejoicing.
• 11:02
  You can get your book copies through Amazon or visit the website www.couplesjourney.org.