Sometimes God calls us to do things that feel impossible, uncomfortable, or even risky. The story of Joseph reminds us that obedience often requires courage, trust, and stepping into the unknown.
I was reading about Mary and Joseph, focusing on how God spoke to Joseph through dreams. In one of those dreams, God told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus and flee Bethlehem for Egypt to protect them. And Joseph obeyed. They got up in the middle of the night and left.
They traveled on foot, with a donkey. I began to really ponder that, so I looked up how far this journey would have been. It was approximately 40 to 60 miles just to reach the Egyptian border. Research also suggests they likely continued farther into Egypt, settling in a larger Jewish community where they could live safely. In total, they may have traveled somewhere between 300 and 500 miles.
They reached Egypt within days, which immediately protected them from Herod, but they didn’t stop there. They kept going until they found a place to settle. I know people in that time were far more accustomed to traveling on foot, but this still overwhelms me.
This feels almost unfathomable to us today, especially with our cars and modern conveniences. I began to ask myself a hard question: If I had that dream, would I have obeyed? Or would I have overthought it? Would my overthinking have stolen my obedience?
It’s dark.
It’s cold.
It’s dangerous.
It’s far.
Would I have gone?
I began to pray, asking God to reveal the things in my life that have kept me from fully obeying Him. I sat quietly for a while, and this thought came to me:
“Comfort has marked your generation. Many of you can’t do what I want you to do because you are always in search of comfort.”
I continued to sit with that. I prayed and asked God to help me prioritize His voice over my comfort. I asked Him to help me not overthink my way into disobedience.
As I kept reading about Joseph, I was reminded that he was a human man—full of doubts and questions, just like us. He must have wrestled deeply with all that this calling implied. For the rest of his life, he may have lived with whispers—whispers that he couldn’t wait until marriage, or worse, that he was raising another man’s child.
For a righteous man like Joseph, the prospect of living with that kind of shame may have felt just as impossible to comprehend as a pregnant virgin. He likely carried the weight of responsibility—not just for himself, but for Mary. How could he teach God’s Son anything? Would the Son of God want to play? Would he lead the Son of God in prayer? How would their future children feel?
Joseph also had to choose to go against the law of his time. The law said he should quietly separate from Mary and send her away. But God said, marry her.
I’m sure his mind swirled.
Yet Joseph did something remarkable. He set aside his doubts and questions and accepted the charge God had given him—regardless of the personal cost. And God blessed him, entrusting him with Jesus, who surely brought profound joy into his life.
Joseph’s story reminds us that obedience rarely comes with full clarity or comfort. It often asks us to move in the dark, to trust without knowing how far the journey will be, and to follow God’s voice above our own reasoning. Like Joseph, we are invited to lay aside our fears, doubts, and desire for ease, and to trust that God’s plans are always rooted in love, protection, and purpose.
Obedience to God may feel uncomfortable, risky, or even impossible at times—but when we trust Him, He blesses us beyond what we can imagine.
Reflection Questions
- What comforts in my life might be making it harder for me to hear or obey God’s voice?
- Have there been times when I sensed God leading me, but overthinking or fear delayed my obedience?
- Joseph obeyed without knowing how long the journey would last or where it would end. Where might God be asking me to trust Him without having all the answers?
- What doubts or questions am I holding that I need to surrender in order to follow God fully?
- How can I begin prioritizing obedience to God over convenience, comfort, or cultural expectations this week?
Closing Prayer
Father God,
Thank You for speaking to us and inviting us to trust You. When obedience feels costly and the path ahead is unclear, help us to listen for Your voice above all others. Give us courage to follow You even when it disrupts our comfort, challenges our understanding, or leads us into the unknown. Teach us to trust You fully and to obey promptly, knowing You are always faithful.
Amen