As we have gone through this Christmas season, the Lord has enlightened me with a fresh view of Mary—one that has both encouraged me and caused me to realize the further application of her character to our lives today. As Christians, we often feel alone in our struggles. We may even wonder why we are going through such things when simply trying to follow the Lord and do what is right. We see the same happen in Mary’s life.
Mary, a young virgin, was known for her pure heart for the Lord. She was described as highly favored by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:28). Furthermore, she had “found favour with God” (Luke 1:30). I imagine being in her place. A young girl who had been seeking the Lord’s will for her life and doing her best to follow His way. It seemed that her happily ever after was just about to begin. She was engaged to the man of her dreams. One who feared the Lord and sought to lead in His ways. When suddenly, she was approached by the angel Gabriel and told that she was going to carry the Christ child. The Bible tells us that this initial salutation troubled her. Upon further explanation she questioned how this could even be possible (Luke 1:34). In our lives, we may be approached with unexpected situations, ones even ordered by the Lord, that seem impossible in our minds. Mary’s example shows us that it is okay to question God in a respectful way- to share our hearts with Him. As we continue to read though, she provides us with an example to follow on the other side of the questioning. She is given 2 simple sentences of explanation followed by “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). Everyone knows that ladies like the details. Was this vague explanation enough to soothe all her worries? I’m more than sure it wasn’t. “What would everyone think? What would Joseph think? How would this affect their plans? Sure, it was an honor, but did she really want this responsibility? This would change her whole life. Why her? Was she even capable of such a responsibility?” These are just a couple of the thoughts that I imagine Mary had to endure. But how did she respond? In Luke 1:38, we see her reply “Be it unto me according to thy word.” Mary placed all her worries, fears, and reservations to the side and humbly submitted to all that God had for her.
But this was not the end of the struggle for Mary. We find that Joseph was initially confused by the situation, and rightfully so. He intended to put her away privily until an angel appeared to him in a dream to confirm that Mary’s story really was true (Matthew 1:18-24). But imagine how Mary felt in the waiting. She had just yielded herself to the task that the Lord had for her and in return she may lose her espoused husband. Furthermore, if he didn’t believe her then how would anyone else? What would everyone think? She eventually had to travel a great distance while very pregnant creating a difficult journey. While out of town to pay their taxes, she delivered the child in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. We often make this sweet picture of the manger birth in our minds, but imagine how gruesome it truly was. We also know that she had no wealth as pictured by the sacrifice made following Christ’s birth. Shortly thereafter, they had to flee out of fear for the child’s life. Imagine the bouts of confusion she faced during Jesus’s childhood. Yet she meekly pondered them in her heart and moved forward doing her part. She later had to witness the murder of the son she came to love. Yet, all this was the very will of God. How could this be? The most beautiful story of love brought Mary through much heartache on this earth.
Similarly, we may endure many trials in our Christian lives- even when we are within the Lord’s will. It’s easy to compare ourselves to others and wonder what we are doing wrong but… When Mary was carrying a child that she didn’t conceive, her friends may have been celebrating their new marriages. When Mary was fleeing for her child’s life, her friends may have been celebrating the birth of a new life in their family. When Mary was wondering where her next meal would come from, her friends may have been on an extravagant trip. When Mary was grieving the murder of her son, her friends may have been celebrating the addition of a daughter-in-law. It may have been easy for her to wonder why she had to deal with all these things when she felt that she was sacrificing more than those around her. Did the Lord not see? Did he not intend to bless her as well? But, oh how He did. In other ways- in eternal ways.
John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” No matter what you are enduring this season, be encouraged in the Lord. Allow Mary’s picture of trust and surrender to stir you in sailing on.