How would you respond to a message containing information that would bring overwhelming changes into your life? The news is glorious, yet brings with it the potential of devastating consequences. It’s so radical that you can’t imagine anyone understanding what’s been spoken to you. Will the ones you love ever believe what’s about to happen to you. In your best case scenario, you feel certain that the man you love will walk out on you. The neighbors will have a heyday gossiping about you. Your parents may lose all respect for you.
Such was the scenario that Mary, the mother of Jesus, faced.
On that first-century day when the angel Gabriel paid Mary a visit, she received the life-altering, mind-blowing and intensely overwhelming news that the long-awaited Messiah would come to earth through her womb. Her response was one simple question: “How will this be?” She didn’t doubt his words. She didn’t protest. She only sought to gain a little insight on how it was going to happen. After the angel explained it to her, (and I’m guessing the answer was something she never could have expected) her final words were, “May it be to me as you have said.” That’s trust. That’s submission! That’s living ‘all in’ with God no matter what by saying an unequivocal “Yes!” to God. That’s a place I want to be.
I recently had to make a decision: follow the leading of God as I perceived it and risk disappointing people very close to me or telling God “I can’t follow you this time.”
After MUCH struggle and prayer, I chose obedience. I am so thankful I did. Yet next time I want my response to be like Mary’s – immediate! I, too, could have asked, “How will this be?” Instead, I panicked. I fought God. I opened a door to fear. Mary didn’t do any of that.
Next time I want to be like Mary and celebrate the news as she did with her cousin Elizabeth. I want to break out in a song of praise, just like Mary did. I want say: “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38), just like Mary did.
How about you? Has God ever led in a direction you didn’t anticipate, one you were hesitant to take? How did you respond?
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