Advent Daily Devotional - Day 6
Luke 2:6-7
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Have you ever had one of those days (could be weeks, months or years) when nothing goes according to plan?
Picture this: a young couple, far from home, with a baby very much on the way, and everywhere they turn in desperation, they are met with "No Vacancy" signs. That's exactly where we find Mary and Joseph in this part of Luke's account of Jesus' birth. No comfortable bed, no proper room for this heavily pregnant girl – just a feeding trough for a crib. Talk about a birth story!
But here's where it gets interesting. This was no ordinary baby - this was the promised Messiah, the Son of God, the one people had been waiting centuries to meet. You would think the King of the universe would attempt to arrive in grand style or at the very least, sort out a decent inn or hotel room or Airbnb even, right? Instead, the King of the universe arrived in the humblest of settings imaginable. No palace creche, no VIP treatment, no royal attendants, not even a welcome committee - just some swaddling clothes and a simple manger. His arrival was not a mistake or a result of poor planning, but our God who holds all the universe in His hands and orchestrates galaxies chose these circumstances deliberately.
Whether you're a business owner, stay-at-home parent, professional, student, or retiree, these verses speak to those moments when life doesn't meet our expectations - when there seems to be no way out of a predicament, when you're feeling overlooked, squeezed out of opportunities or stuck in circumstances that seem beneath you or too overwhelming. This Christmas story reminds us that our "manger moments" - those situations that feel less than ideal - can become sacred spaces where God shows up unexpectedly. In seasons of disappointment, loss, or uncertainty, His grace remains sufficient, and His timing will ALWAYS be perfect! Like the baby Jesus, we can trust that He will make a way, even when there is 'No Room'!
May the simple yet profound truths of the Christmas story fill your heart with wonder, renew your faith and cause you to trust in God's perfect timing and provision in your greatest moments of uncertainty. Sometimes closed doors are just redirections to something more amazing!
Questions
What "No Vacancy" signs are you facing in your life right now? In what situations have you felt like there was "no place" for you?
How can you trust that God is working, even in these closed doors?
Where have you made your life so full that there might be "no room" for God's presence? Let's challenge ourselves to always find time to create space for Him.
Today’s devotional was written by Yinka Fatokun.