My heart is bursting! Here I am again at Christmas time receiving another of the greatest gifts imaginable. Oh Lord, Your love, grace, and mercy truly know no bounds! I will never understand why You’ve chosen to bless me so abundantly, but I am filled with gratitude!
This is such a special time to receive this most exciting news of carrying a new blessing. It makes the nativity story come alive in my mind in fresh ways. I simply cannot comprehend what it must have been like for Mary to receive word from an angel that the Savior of the world was dwelling within her. Oh, the things she must have faced. A poor, unmarried woman with a respectable fiance, she found herself in a taboo situation, causing shame for her and the one she loved. Would Joseph be embarrassed? Would he reject her? Would he laugh at her? And what would everyone else say? Surely at least a select few would support her but still doubt her words. That sweet, precious time before the world knew about the pregnancy- before the shocked faces, doubt-filled expressions, concerns, and opinions of others- must have been sacred. What could she do but unashamedly and carelessly rejoice as she replayed the words of the angel in her mind?
Many hardships were just on the horizon. God never spoke of a life of comfort, or even of respect. Finances would be tight (as evident in the sacrifice she offered), reputations and relationships would most likely suffer (after all, Jesus Himself was despised and rejected), and the difficulty of pregnancy, labor, and caring for a child would remain.
And yet, in this most divine and sacred moment, Mary was overcome with thankfulness, joy, and adoration. Peace reigned in her heart as she worshipped the Giver of all good. Her emotions would take a beating once she faced the world, but nothing would turn her away from obedience to her Heavenly Father. This event would carry her to the moment of delivery when she would meet her firstborn Child, her Maker, and her Salvation all in one amazingly glorious second. It would sustain her through the next thirty- three years until she stood helpless watching unbelievers torture her most precious baby. She would continue to remember the promise she received when He came back to life only to depart to Heaven shortly after. One day she would see Him again. The hardships would end, and she would reunite with her firstborn in perfection. This time it would be forever.
Mary’s story is our story. She was not perfect. I imagine she wrestled with emotions, doubts, people-pleasing, and fear. The guilt we as moms face when we parent poorly must have been taken to a whole new level with her. Yet she loved and obeyed God, and He in turn allowed her to experience Him in many moments, which granted her renewed joy, peace, and excitement in being a part of His plan. We have the opportunity to experience God when we seek Him.
“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
As Christians, we also have Him (in the form of the Holy Spirit) dwelling within us.
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
We will face trials, sometimes downright rip-your-heart-out moments, but like Mary, we will be filled with joy when we experience His goodness and His presence, and fully believe in His promises. Luke 2:19 speaks of Mary treasuring up in her heart all the ways she saw God working through and in her family. Let those be the things we treasure up in our hearts.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Palm 34:19
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” John 16:20-22
“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Luke 2:19
And like Mary, let us sing giant melodies to our God who never fails us or forsakes us!
Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” Luke 1:46-55