Just think…..what if an angel showed up tonight at your home and surprised you with life altering news that would rock your ever loving world? Well, that’s what happened with Mary!
The angel Gabriel announced to Mary these words “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you…. Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the hose of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1: 26-33)
Imagine yourself in the place of Mary. What would be the expression on your face as you catch first sight of Gabriel? What would you be thinking as Gabe described what would happen? How would you adjust your life to this news? How would you emotionally deal with such significant change in your life?
God handpicked Mary to be a part of the greatest story every told. She had probably dreamed about the Messiah’s arrival, never thinking that she would be a part of this God-sized story! She didn’t quite get it and asked the angel for some clarification. This was not what she had planned, yet her response was one of surrender “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38) That is an example of beautiful submission to God.
How do you feel when your plans are drastically changed?
What your plans are altered, how does fear set in?
When life doesn’t go the way you want, do you accept your circumstances or blame God?
It seems like Mary can help each of us see God at work more clearly in our own lives. Even while Mary and Joseph had certain plans for the future, she submitted to God for His plan. Beth Moore writes “We get so fixated on the one thing we desperately want God to do that we miss 100 things He is presently doing. Our awakenness to the other things will either buoy us up in our faith for the one thing or remind us of His goodness, if for whatever sovereign reason, it is withheld.”
Dear friend, please don’t miss what God wants to personally do in your life. Allow Him into your life and be aware, engaged and vigilant to say “yes” to Him. Don’t give up on God if He hasn’t done the one thing you want Him to do. Mary didn’t limit God. She surrendered to God and his ways and her life was forever changed.
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
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