Now it’s Joseph’s turn.  You know the story.  It’s there in Matthew 1:18-25.  Mary, trusting in the God of the impossible, accepts her role as the mother of the Messiah.  Suddenly, Joseph’s world is turned upside down.  His happy betrothal to Mary takes a shocking and disconcerting turn: she’s expecting, and he doesn’t quite know what to do.  Perplexed would probably be an understatement.  So would hurt.  Betrayed might be another good word.  It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this….  But then the angel came to him with the same message that had been given to Mary: “Fear not!”  Mary’s pregnancy was simply part of God’s miraculous plan to save the world, just as the Prophet Isaiah had written hundreds of years before.  And Joseph believed it.  No words of his are recorded anywhere in Scripture, but Joseph’s actions truly speak louder than words.  He set aside his fear and took his precious Mary as his wife.  No doubt his marriage got the town gossips’ tongues wagging.  I’m sure many questioned his wisdom, if not his sanity.  But Joseph showed his faith in God’s plan.  So should we.  Without fear.  Trusting God’s plan doesn’t mean we will understand, but it does mean we will obey.  It means we will stay true to that plan no matter what is said or who says it.  We follow God’s word.  Period.  It’s not always easy, is it?  It wasn’t for Joseph, either.  But he stuck to God’s plan and followed it in faith.  And so should you.