“’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.”-Luke 1:38
For Mary, the news came too soon. Unlike her relative Elizabeth, who was married, far along in years, and said to be barren, Mary was a young, unmarried woman. She had a future. Her whole life was ahead of her. Still, like her uncle Zechariah, she was greatly troubled when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. When she heard the announcement that she was to give birth to a son who would be great and whose kingdom would never end, she asked, “How will this be since I am a virgin?”
Sometimes the call comes too soon. In those moments, everything changes and things become uncertain. Sometimes bad things happen, and we question whether or not God is good. Other times we hear God’s call, but we doubt that we’re the right age, or that we have the right education, or that we have the right training or the right experience.
But Mary was ready to surrender her life to the Lord, even if it meant that she might be disgraced in the eyes of everyone who knew her. Yes, she asked how this could be; and the angel responded that the power of the Lord would overshadow her. But Gabriel reminded her (and Elizabeth) that “No word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:37)
Mary took God at His word, accepted God’s will for her life, and placed herself in God’s hands. As a result, she was able to see God work even in the midst of uncertain times. You may find yourselves going through a similar season of uncertainty, but my prayer is that you will be able to experience God’s peace and provision because we trust in a God who is certain. May that good news bring you hope as you gather with your family for Thanksgiving and as we work our way into the Advent season.
For Mary, the news came too soon. Unlike her relative Elizabeth, who was married, far along in years, and said to be barren, Mary was a young, unmarried woman. She had a future. Her whole life was ahead of her. Still, like her uncle Zechariah, she was greatly troubled when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. When she heard the announcement that she was to give birth to a son who would be great and whose kingdom would never end, she asked, “How will this be since I am a virgin?”
Sometimes the call comes too soon. In those moments, everything changes and things become uncertain. Sometimes bad things happen, and we question whether or not God is good. Other times we hear God’s call, but we doubt that we’re the right age, or that we have the right education, or that we have the right training or the right experience.
But Mary was ready to surrender her life to the Lord, even if it meant that she might be disgraced in the eyes of everyone who knew her. Yes, she asked how this could be; and the angel responded that the power of the Lord would overshadow her. But Gabriel reminded her (and Elizabeth) that “No word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:37)
Mary took God at His word, accepted God’s will for her life, and placed herself in God’s hands. As a result, she was able to see God work even in the midst of uncertain times. You may find yourselves going through a similar season of uncertainty, but my prayer is that you will be able to experience God’s peace and provision because we trust in a God who is certain. May that good news bring you hope as you gather with your family for Thanksgiving and as we work our way into the Advent season.
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