Faith like Mary

          This Christmas season, I have been thinking a lot about Mary. Our pastor gave a sermon about her that really got me thinking about Mary’s faith. I always think about Mary as the mother of Jesus, but don’t often think of her so much as an actual person, a young woman who was called to a bigger purpose for God’s plan. How crazy it must have sounded to be literally expecting God’s child!!!

Mary must have had an amazing connection with God to readily accept such an unconventional assignment. Her heart must have already been prepared to follow God’s will, no matter how crazy it sounded. Imagine the heartache she stood to face as she suddenly appeared pregnant in her time of engagement. It certainly was no easy task to commit to such a plan. Yet Mary was ready to proceed in faith that things would work out just as God has told her. He was bringing a Savior into the world through her. She believed that He worked in the impossible!

           Now, I don’t know about you, but when I feel God leading me to do something, I want a roadmap. I want to see exactly how it is all supposed to unfold so that I know beyond doubt that I am on the right path. I am sure God’s plan did not come with a roadmap for Mary either. Although, as a mother, it sounds quite nice to have the perfect child to parent!!! I imagine there were times that Mary wondered about the details of God’s plan as well. After all, it was 33 years later that she saw the ultimate plan. I am sure that was a difficult reality as a mother as well, her perfect son suffering for the sins of the world. Again, it makes me think Mary must have had such strong faith that God was working in all of this. 

            I don’t know what God has called you to do, but whatever it is, may you have faith like Mary. Know that He has called you for a reason and will see His plan through to completion. When you feel like He hasn’t given you the roadmap, ask Him to show you the next step. He calls us to follow Him one step at a time. It is up to us to tune in to that still, small voice to hear the next step. He also never promises it will be easy. I am sure there will be times that it feels like God wouldn’t call us to do something so difficult, just like Mary. It is my prayer that if I am willing to proceed in faith like Mary did, God will be faithful to show me all of the details as we go.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”        Ephesians 2:10