When the angel came to Mary and told her she was to be the mother of God’s Son, she was (rightly) confused.
Her first thoughts ran to what she knew and understood: children are conceived by the joining of man and woman, she was a virgin.
“How can this be?”
The angel Gabriel explained (sort of): “Your child will be conceived by the Holy Spirit. And as proof of God’s miraculous ability to do what He says He will do-your old relative, Elizabeth, is six months pregnant!” [loose personal paraphrase]
So Mary graciously bowed her heart to this strange thing God was doing in her and asking of her.
“I belong to the Lord, body and soul,” replied Mary, “let it happen as you say.” And at this the angel left her. (Luke 1:38 PHILLIPS)
She was willing, even though she could not possibly have understood all that would be asked of her in the end.
God did not give me any warning that He was about to take my life in another, very hard, very painful, horribly sad direction.
No angel explained to me what God was doing.
I didn’t have a chance to ask questions or beg for a different path.
I cannot change what HAS happened-Dominic is dead. But my heart attitude determines how I will REACT to what has happened.
I am faced with precisely the same decision Mary had to make: Will I trust God-Who cannot lie and Who will fulfill every promise-or do I turn my heart from Him and seek my own will and way?
I am not nearly as gracious as Mary. I have kicked against the goads and screamed, “Why???” at the sky.
I will still tell anyone who asks that I do not like this plan at all.
But I am learning to rest in the same truth that guided Mary’s heart.
I am God’s servant-His bondslave-and He is in control.
He may do with me as He pleases.
I read this prayer this morning in my quiet time and you reiterated perfectly in yours.
This Christmas, I pray for confidence in what I hope for but cannot see yet. Help my faith in Your faithfulness increase. Thank You for being the God who exceeds expectations. Your timing is perfect, and Your plan is best. Have Your way in my life!
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This post reminds me that God is in control and I am not AND that to trust him is to accept his will.
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This post has really helped me, Melanie. I, too, continue to trust where God is taking us despite the future unknowns and the pain we are walking through life with.
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