This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:18-21 NLT)
A friend told me that his Wesley Methodist church pastor had once preached the Christmas story through the eyes of Joseph.
Joseph was a troubled man. First, he thought his wife was unfaithful and an angel had to appear in a dream to convince him otherwise. Then the birth of Jesus coincided with the census and he had to bring his family back to his hometown in Bethlehem and there was no lodging available and Jesus was born in a manger. Later the family had to flee to Egypt to avoid the wrath of king Herod. While so much were happening, Joseph was definitely doing God's will.
So you can be in the centre of God's will and still be full of trouble.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7 KJV)
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up!" he said. "Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him." (Matthew 2:13 BSB)
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