Photo by atomicjeep

By Joy Wong

Lately, I’ve become aware of a perpetual discontent within me.  It seems that my thoughts are often filled with “if only” statements.  When I look in the mirror, I lament, “If only I had a better complexion.”  When I think about my career, I think, “If only I knew what God wanted me to do.”  I also often hear such sentiments around me:  “if only I made more money,”  “if only my child was more ambitious,” “if only I lived closer to family,” etc — each “if only” statement expressing a less-than-ideal present circumstance, and perhaps a wish for the future to be diferent.

This past Sunday, during the Christmas message given by Pastor Sam Lee at Catalyst Agape Center, I was reminded of the less-than-ideal circumstances of Jesus’ birth.  The “if only” statements that could have been expressed by Mary and Joseph would be too many to count, but among them might be, “if only the inn had more room, “if only the barn wasn’t so cold and the animals didn’t smell so bad,” and for something more creative, perhaps they thought “if only Jesus could have been conceived shortly after we were married but before we consummated our marriage so that Mary could still have the virgin birth without suffering the shame of getting pregnant out of wedlock.”  I’m sure I can come up with many more! 

The reality is that God chose for Jesus to be born in circumstances far less than the ideal.  While this fact is often highlighted in Christmas sermons, how often do we take this truth to heart in our everyday lives?  This Christmas, instead of lamenting the present and wishing for better circumstances in the future, I am personally challenged to keep my eyes open for what God might be doing in the present, despite what is less than ideal — for I believe God’s presence is with us in the here and now whether ideal or not, and that perhaps we need only be attentive and fully present to find satisfaction, contentment, and joy in it.

Joy Wong completed  a Masters of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary.  She and her husband currently attend New City Church of Los Angeles.  To contact Joy, please send your inquiry to aawolsisters@gmail.com.