Faithfulness in the shadows

Last week, we stood beside Mary—the young maiden whose “yes” to God changed the world.

Today, we step into the shadows and turn our attention to the honorable man who walked beside her.

Every Father’s Day, I’m reminded of Joseph—Jesus’ earthly guardian,

His stepfather.

And I often wonder, What must it have been like to be chosen by God to raise His only Son?

Men and women, parents and non-parents—

you don’t have to be a father to relate to Joseph.

You only have to know what it feels like when God calls you into something bigger,

harder, and more confusing than you ever imagined.

Joseph’s story is quiet, humble, and even almost hidden…

But it thunders with lessons for every believer who desires to walk faithfully with God.

Matthew 1:18–20 NKJV

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

Before the angel had the chance to speak,

Joseph’s world had already collapsed.

He loved Mary.

He had plans.

He had dreams.

A home.

A simple life.

A future.

He wasn’t trying to make headlines.

He was just trying to be faithful in the quiet corners of life—

After all, he was just an average Joe, if you’ll allow the pun.

Then he hears the news:

“His Mary’s pregnant.”

And Joseph knows it wasn’t him.

In our culture that’s devastating.

In his culture it was dangerous—shameful & potentially fatal.

But Scripture says Joseph was a just man.

He didn’t react out of

anger,

revenge,

ego,

or wounded pride.

Rather.he planned to end things quietly, preserving Mary’s dignity

A pastor once shared how, before ministry, he worked construction with a man named Frank.

Frank was known for one thing: he didn’t talk much.

But whenever conflict hit the job site,

Frank would quietly step in and de-escalate.

Someone once asked him, “How do you stay so calm?”

Frank said, “Because yelling never built a house. But obedience to the blueprint does.”

Joseph is that kind of man: calm, steady, guided by the blueprint of righteousness.

Jospeh was a man who had this wisdom and compassion about him,

He knew nothing good would come from him publicly humiliating her

By calling her out for prosecution, judged not only by the harsh condemnation of the law of the time

But also in the court of public opinion.

She would be ruined, her, the child and the rest of Mary’s family

But God spoke to Joseph’s confusion in a dream saying,

“Do not be afraid. This is My plan.”

Joseph still didn’t get all the answers, nor did they come to his broken heart.

He didn’t get a detailed step-by-step instruction manual.

He didn’t get clarity about the future.

He simply got enough light or hope for the next step.

And so Joseph obeyed.

APPLICATION: Church, this is the first lesson from Joseph:

If you wait to obey until you fully understand, you’ll never step into the plans of God.

Matthew 1:24–25 NKJV

24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Did you know, there is not one recorded sentence of Joseph that exists in Scripture?

Not one!

He was a man of very few words, as far as we know by the absence of any in scripture

Yet his life speaks volumes.

He took Mary as his wife.

He chose a child that wasn’t biologically his.

He shielded Mary from whispers, shame, and social scorn.

He then named the child Jesus—accepting the role of spiritual guardian.

Joseph shouldered the weight of his calling quietly,

without demanding applause,

without defending his reputation,

without needing to be seen.

We live in a world obsessed with being visible:

“Speak your truth!”

“Tell your side!”

“Post about it on social media so everyone can know”

“Make sure they know what you’re dealing with!”

But the story of Joseph here show us a different model:

“Let your obedience speak louder than your mouth.”

Sometimes the strongest people in your life are the ones whose names no one knows. The grandmother who prayed heaven open. The single mother who worked two jobs quietly to keep the lights on. The dedicated father who sacrificed his body to provide for his family The coworker who takes blame to protect others. The spouse who carries unseen burdens so the other can rest. These are Josephs—faithful in the shadows, holding families and futures together by God’s grace.

Lesson two: “Strength is not measured in volume, but in obedience.”

Matthew 2:1–15 NKJV

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

The tests for Joseph’s obedience began immediately.

There was no room at the inn.

Mary went into labor.

The Son of God ends of being born in a stable, next to where animals trod their business

By today’s standards, Joseph might think:

“He was an Epic failure.”

But the tests, aren’t over yet,

Herod sends out a decree to kill not just the child, but all the children in Ramah, fulfilling prophecy

Jeremiah 31:15 NKJV

15 Thus says the Lord: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.”

In the middle of the night, Joseph is then awakened by another dream:

“Get up. Take the child. Flee to Egypt.”

No time to plan.

No time to pack.

No time to think.

Just go.

That’s hundreds of miles through desert roads filled with bandits and thieves.

Mary is exhausted.

Jesus is fragile.

Joseph is responsible for them both.

He leads them into the dark, trusting God even when the path makes no sense.

Then comes yet another dream:

“Return to Israel.”

Then another:

“Avoid Judea. Go to Nazareth.”

Every move,

every decision,

every responsibility falls on Joseph.

And in all Scripture, not once is there a recorded complaint by Joseph.

A missionary couple once shared how they had to flee their village at night due to incoming violence.

They ran with only what they could carry, no time to think—only trust.

They said, “We didn’t know where we were going.

We only knew Who was leading us.”

That is Joseph: faithful in the dark, courageous in uncertainty.

Lesson three: Faith isn’t proven in comfort—it’s proven when the road gets hard and the answers aren’t clear.

Joseph wasn’t:

• a rabbi

• a priest

• a scholar

• a warrior

• wealthy

• influential

He was a carpenter.

A working man.

A quiet man.

An ordinary person by every cultural standard.

But remember, God doesn’t choose people the way the world does.

God trusted Joseph with:

• Mary’s safety

• Jesus’ protection

• The fulfillment of prophecy

• The survival of the Messiah’s early life

Why?

Because Joseph was a godly man.

A godly woman or man can be trusted with God-sized assignments because the power does not come from them—

God places His power in them.

Joseph didn’t know the path.

He didn’t know the challenges ahead.

He didn’t know how to raise the Messiah.

But he knew God—and that was enough.

Lesson four: If you walk with God, He will equip you for whatever He calls you to do.

When we look at Joseph, we see…

• He obeyed when it was hard.

• He led even when life was confusing.

• He protected when danger threatened.

• He stayed faithful when others would have quit.

• He trusted God when the road was dark.

Remember this point, no be confused,

Joseph didn’t just make the cut.

Joseph didn’t make the team or rather the list of famous Godly men that did great things,

Because he was awesome,

No!

He made the team because, and only because, God chose him—

Because God knew Joseph would follow wherever He led.

This is not just a message for men.

It is a message for every follower of Jesus who is covered by the blood of the Lamb

that though we are celebrating His birth,

He gave His life for you and I on the cross.

Brothers and Sisters,

Is God calling you to obey even though you don't fully understand?

Is He calling you to walk quietly, faithfully, without applause?

Is He calling you to carry a burden heavier than you feel capable of lifting?

Is He calling you to trust Him in a season of darkness or uncertainty?

Take courage.

If God called Joseph, He can call you.

If God equipped Joseph, He can equip you.

If God guided Joseph, He will guide you too.

CLOSING PRAYER

“Lord, make us men and women like Joseph—steady, obedient, humble, and faithful.

Teach us to trust You not only when the path is clear, but when the road is dark.

Shape our character, quiet our spirits, and strengthen our faith. Equip us, as You equipped Joseph,

to carry out the callings You have placed on our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.”