🌟 December 19th Devotional: God Doesn’t Use Who We’d Expect — The Mary and Joseph Story

 

🌟 December 19th Devotional: God Doesn’t Use Who We’d Expect — The Mary and Joseph Story

If we were writing the story of the Savior’s birth, we probably wouldn’t have chosen Mary and Joseph.

A teenage girl from a small town.
A humble carpenter with no platform, no pedigree, no palace.
But God did.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height… The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” — 1 Samuel 16:7

God didn’t choose Mary because she was famous.
He chose her because she was faithful.
He didn’t choose Joseph because he was powerful.
He chose him because he was obedient.

🎯 God Uses the Willing, Not Just the Qualified
Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant.” Joseph got up and did what the angel commanded. They didn’t have all the answers — but they had surrendered hearts.

🎯 God’s Plans Often Begin in Obscurity
Nazareth wasn’t a place of prestige. The stable wasn’t a place of honor. But God chose them anyway — because He delights in using the unexpected to reveal the extraordinary.

🎯 God Still Works This Way
He chooses the overlooked. The underestimated. The ones who feel too small, too broken, too ordinary. Because His power is made perfect in weakness.

This Christmas, don’t count yourself out.
Don’t assume God can’t use you because of your past, your pain, or your position.
He’s still writing stories through people who simply say yes.

 

A Prayer to Be Used by God

Father,
Thank You for choosing Mary and Joseph —
not because they were perfect,
but because they were willing.

Help me say yes to You,
even when I feel small,
even when I feel unseen.

Use my life for Your glory.
Use my story for Your kingdom.
Let me be faithful in the quiet places,
and obedient in the unexpected ones.

You don’t need perfection —
You ask for surrender.
And today, I say yes.

Amen.