Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. Luke 1:29
Someone may respond to the unimaginable with, “There is no way on earth that could ever happen!” Then possibilities compete for a shot at winning on reason upon considering it. As one’s mind races with questions as to whether a matter could actually become reality, in order to move on, a doubtful conclusion arrives out of personal frame of reference to make some sense of the odd thing said.
To Mary, the mother of Jesus, words regarding an unlikely occurrence were said to her that caused her to wonder, to the point of being greatly troubled, how what she heard could ever happen. Yet, she was not able to find a conclusion on which to get by, at least not without help.
Like Mary, we are called to recognize God is able to bring about good from what appears a “no way on earth” circumstance. It appears this way because it is this way, and to our advantage.
Luke chapter 1 talks about how the angel Gabriel, whom God sent, came to Mary, greeted her, told her she was highly favored, and said not to be afraid because God was with her. She had never seen anyone of Gabriel’s form, but God knew this and made sure she had everything needed to get through what would bless her and countless other people by way of her trust.
God knew Mary would have normal, human reactions about the strange visitor before he ever showed up. What God did to help Mary through it left for us a treasure we can keep during the most difficult experiences we must face: the ones just between God and ourselves, and the ones others know of and at times question to our faces only to firmly conclude God could never or would never do anything about.
God Who Relates
Mary was in a situation where she knew there was no way she could be with child, but believed what the angel told her would happen because of how the angel approached her. Because God was preparing Mary’s life before the angel arrived, Mary was able to hold onto the words she heard and trust without knowing how any of it could work out.
We know God was at work in Mary’s heart especially because the angel instructed her not to fear. Providing this instruction shows God knew Mary’s humanness and brought compassion to her in how she would be approached by the angel. God considered the language and tone the angel would use in speaking to her so she could understand, and the time and place of the conversation. What other than a loving God would come to us to have a conversation? He is the God who relates.
God does not say do this or that and not want to hear our side. He is not alarmed or put off by our uncertainty. Though He knows our questions before we ask them, He wants to hear them and address our concerns before we realize we even have concerns about anything we face. He talks with us because He wants us to have a relationship with Him that makes our lives whole, full of grace, dignity, and strength, at peace in our knowledge of His character.
We do not always understand what God is doing, but He does address our fears to help us have faith through anything. He does this not only as an act of love and faithful relationship toward us, but also to show His complete control and personal responsibility for what happens to us as a result of our trust in Him.
Since Mary was in a place, where she had to be completely dependent upon God, there was nothing she could force. There was nothing she could control to protect herself from a bad reputation or worse especially since she was not yet married, the man to whom she was engaged.
Perfect
For no word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:35
God works His plans in our lives in ways that nothing and no one could do or manipulate. These are actions only He can do by His own will and method. Why does He do this? He does it to increase our faith and help us grow to desire use of our free will to seek and trust Him first in all we do.
Mary had to trust God would protect her through the process of what she was called to do. She was God’s servant and learned she was in His care every step of the way. Mary came to know the outcome was His responsibility, of which He must follow-through with every detail or none of it would happen.
Without God’s covering over her life, the plan would fail. Bringing the Messiah into the world through Mary was not Mary’s plan, but God’s. This is what is so perfect about the whole event. It was all on God to accomplish. The plan could not be ruined because the time, place, and duration of what was to occur were all in God’s hands. He even provided her the name of the child and that she would have a son.
What happened to Mary can come across as frustrating because no one wants what seems unanswered absurdity. He is able to do easily what people would quickly label absurd. However, God does not always work that way. He does not so that our faith may be strengthened. We want a reason that will go with any event in order to place pain in a compartment of order because it is easy and comfortable. It is the most desirable thing to do to gain some understanding especially in a world where immense suffering exists, including man’s inhumanity to man.
We might look at our own circumstances and compare by thinking, “That was then, this is now.” But, the Creator of Mary who saw her through a frightening yet good thing is the same God today, able to do what He wants in our lives to a positive end. Mary came to understand the angel’s purpose, that what was happening to her was good. Under God’s ability and provision, we must come to know the same about what we bring to the Lord to take care of in His time, place, and for the duration He wants the answer to our need to occur. He was able to be in complete charge of guiding Mary’s life in bringing Jesus into the world and raising Him as God planned. He is able to work in our hearts today to do what He has called each of us to do. This was important for Mary to learn and it is important for us now.
We are grateful today that Mary trusted God and later her own son as her savior and lord. That is the reason Jesus came, the difference He makes, the light He is to a world in need. We not only believe in Jesus, but most importantly on Jesus by asking Him into our hearts to make us clean, to forgive our sin. And He does. All it takes is a simple prayer of asking Him. We receive this gift from God, His own son, who changes our lives as nothing else ever could so we can let His light shine through us, imperfect, as we are, but usable because He cannot fail. We can keep fighting the good fight knowing it is already won because Jesus came. As we walk by faith and His direction, we can do so knowing nothing is in vain. There is no losing. It is His victory.
