Choosing Christmas, Day Seven

Day Seven

December 9

Welcome back! When we last left off, Mary and Elizabeth were standing at the door to Elizabeth’s house. Mary’s eyes no doubt are bugging out at Elizabeth’s belly, which is swollen with physical confirmation of Gabriel’s words. And while I’m beyond eager to get into their meeting, we can’t afford to skip Mary’s response to her own calling back in Nazareth. Without it, our story would not be complete!

When Mary was told she would give birth to the Messiah, she didn’t say, “How can I know you’re telling me the truth?” (That’s a paraphrase of what Elizabeth’s husband said, and his skepticism rendered him temporarily mute!) Incredibly, Mary’s response was, “How?” How, when she had never slept with a man? Apparently Gabriel considered it a fair question since he didn’t reprimand her for it. He simply told Mary that God would overshadow her, and she would conceive by His Spirit. To which she replied, “Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”

Do you suppose the response Mary received to her question fully satisfied her? It’s plausible to surmise that Mary wanted more details, right? And yet, in the face of the unknown, Mary articulated her willingness to follow God’s plan.

7) Mary’s “I will to God’s will” moved her further toward God’s purpose for her life. The same is true with our faith journeys. Not only is it possible, but it’s permissible to have more questions than answers and still hold fast to our faith. Let’s pause and consider what is currently happening in our lives that we don’t understand. Maybe we don’t see how the promise we recorded in Day Four could ever come to pass. Perhaps it’s another situation. Whatever it is, let’s spend a moment journaling about it, and let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us yield our wills even in the midst of our questions.

Hugs,
Shellie