Choosing What’s Right Over What’s Easy: Lessons from Joseph’s Difficult Decision
Have you ever made a decision based on what someone else would think? Maybe it was a purchase to get noticed, a compromise of your values to fit in, or even something as simple as telling someone you liked their shirt when you didn’t. We all face the pressure of others’ opinions, and sometimes this pressure creates the most challenging decisions we’ll ever make.
Joseph’s Impossible Situation
The story of Jesus’ birth isn’t just about Mary’s miraculous pregnancy. It’s also about Joseph’s incredible dilemma. When Joseph discovered that Mary, his betrothed wife, was pregnant with a child that wasn’t his, he faced an impossible choice that would test everything he believed about faith, love, and doing what’s right.
Life in a Small Town
Understanding Joseph’s situation requires knowing where it happened. Nazareth was a tiny town of only 200-400 people. In small communities like this, everyone knows everyone’s business. Once word got out about Mary’s pregnancy, there would be no hiding from the whispers, stares, and judgment of their neighbors.
Imagine the emotions both Mary and Joseph must have felt. Joseph was likely blindsided, feeling betrayed, heartbroken, lonely, and afraid. Mary probably felt unprepared, shocked, and looked down upon by everyone around her. After all, how do you explain to a small town that your pregnancy came from the Holy Spirit?
When Good Conflicts with Good
Joseph’s dilemma wasn’t about choosing between right and wrong. It was about choosing between two good things. The law was clear: unfaithfulness in marriage warranted divorce, and in extreme cases, even death by stoning. Joseph was described as “faithful to the law,” so legally and religiously, he had grounds to divorce Mary.
But Joseph was also a compassionate man who “did not want to expose her to public disgrace.” He planned to “divorce her quietly,” showing mercy even in his pain.
The Greater Good
This tension between law and love isn’t unique to Joseph’s story. Jesus himself faced similar situations, like when the Pharisees tried to trap him by bringing a man with a shriveled hand to the synagogue on the Sabbath. Would Jesus heal on the day of rest?
Jesus responded with a simple question: “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep?”
The law is fulfilled through love. Sometimes doing the right thing means choosing compassion over rigid rule-following.
God’s Answer to Joseph’s Dilemma
After Joseph wrestled with this decision, God provided clarity through a dream. An angel appeared and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”
This wasn’t just about resolving Joseph’s immediate problem. It was about fulfilling God’s ancient promise to be present with His people. The name Emmanuel means “God with us,” representing God’s commitment to walk among His people regardless of their circumstances.
The Power of Simple Obedience
When Joseph woke up, he did exactly what the angel commanded. He took Mary as his wife and named the child Jesus. This might seem like a small act, but simple, quiet obedience often has the most profound impact.
We tend to think God works through grand gestures and dramatic signs, but more often He works through small acts of faithfulness. Joseph’s “yes” to God’s plan changed the course of human history.
Right vs. Easy: The Daily Choice
Joseph’s story reveals a truth we face every day: God’s invitation usually means choosing what is right over what is easy. This principle applies to countless situations in our lives:
- It’s easy to withhold forgiveness from someone who never apologized, but it’s right to forgive like Jesus did
- It’s easy to get lost in work or scroll through our phones, but it’s right to be present with our family
- It’s easy to ignore broken relationships, but it’s right to pursue reconciliation\
The Hardest Decisions Are Often Private
The most challenging obedience often happens in moments no one else will ever see. These private choices—the ones between you and God—can have generational impact. Your faithfulness in small, unseen moments can reach further than you’ll ever know.
Emmanuel: You’re Not Alone
The beautiful truth of Emmanuel is that Joseph never had to make his difficult choice alone, and neither do we. God’s presence is with us in every decision, especially the hard ones. That still, small voice guides us when we’re willing to listen and obey.
God’s presence isn’t limited to church buildings or special moments—He is with us through His people, in our daily choices, and in the quiet moments when we choose to trust Him over our fears.
Life Application
This week, identify one area where God is inviting you to choose what is right over what is easy. Maybe it’s:
- Forgiving someone who hurt you
- Having a difficult conversation you’ve been avoiding
- Setting boundaries with technology to be more present with loved ones
- Taking steps toward reconciliation in a broken relationship
- Standing up for what’s right even when it’s unpopular
Remember that you don’t have to make these choices alone. Emmanuel (“God with us”) means His presence goes with you into every difficult decision.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Where am I choosing what’s easy instead of what’s right?
- What decision am I avoiding because I’m worried about what others will think?
- How can I trust God’s presence with me in the difficult choices I’m facing?
- What small act of obedience is God calling me to today?
Like Joseph, your simple “yes” to God’s invitation could have an impact far beyond what you can imagine. Choose what’s right, trust in God’s presence, and watch how He works through your faithfulness.