Your Will Be Done
I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:38 (NIV)
The announcement had been made and there was no time to waste. Mary had been selected to carry the Messiah and the baby’s father was not Joseph. Her dream of marrying was in jeopardy. She was pregnant and who would understand that she had not been with another man. Would Joseph understand? How could she explain to Joseph without him thinking he had been betrayed? The angel Gabriel said “do not be afraid”. But in the Jewish culture, how was it possible for Mary to not be afraid? Her entire life was in danger. She was engaged to Joseph and instead of planning for the wedding of her dreams, Mary had to pack and leave before she was stoned to death. What about her family? Her parents arranged her marriage, but there would not be a wedding. Well, not the wedding they had in mind.
What do you do when your life doesn’t work out the way you thought it would? How do you respond when circumstances are difficult? Especially when the difficulties are not of your own doing? You can remember as a child singing “Jesus loves me this I know” and now as an adult, you secretly think “if Jesus loved me, why would He allow this difficulty in my life”?
Mary was selected to carry the Messiah and with that blessing came difficulties and heartache. With such pain how could this be from God? God blessed Mary to carry the Messiah but with this blessing came the opportunity for Mary to see the power of God. She found herself in a situation where if God didn't show His power, Mary would die. No one knew more than Mary what this blessing was going to cost her. She knew she would be required to give up her will for her life and replace it with God’s will for her life.
How do you respond when God interrupts your life plans? How did Mary respond? In Luke 2:39 Mary says to the angel “Behold the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”
I can’t help but wonder if the strange circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus are a reminder for us to not be discouraged when things don’t turn out like we think they should. Mary had no idea that God had also sent an angel to tell Joseph that the Spirit had placed the Son of God inside her. Mary did not know that God had taken care of every detail and had everything in control. Oh, to trust God when everything seems hopeless! Wouldn’t it be great to desire God’s glory over ideal circumstances?
God interrupted Mary’s plans for a bigger plan and we are still reading about it thousands of years later. Are you willing to trust God even when you are not sure how your circumstances may turn out? I don’t think we ever want to look back and wonder what God would have done if we had only obeyed.
FURTHER READING: Luke 1:27-45
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