Standing Tall In Confusing Moments

We spoke yesterday about Joseph and how, when he heard what was for him devasting news that Mary, his fiancé was pregnant before marriage and by Bloggersomeone other than himself, he was able to connect his broken heart and whirling thoughts to the grace and truth of God resident in his spirit and do the right thing.

Things were no less difficult for Mary.  An angel showed up one day unexpectedly and announced God’s plan to her.  What was going on in Mary at the time?

But Mary was very confused about what the angel said. She wondered, “What does this mean? The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, because God is very pleased with you. Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen?”

Luke 1:29-30, 34

I see confusion, fear, wondering about what’s going on and what it all means.  Mary had lovely plans that were working out as they were meant to.  Now what?

She’d met Joseph and they’d dated.  They had stood before the community and pledged their commitment to one another.  Now they were going through the time of their betrothal before they would move in together and share the rest of their lives as a married couple.  Everything was working out in a process everyone understood.  How is all this going to impact that? 

Once again, the true depth of Mary’s character and the relationship with God that was active in her life was demonstrated in her response to what the angel told her.  Things that had never happened, that were impossible to understand on a human level, were going to be played out in her life. 

Mary doesn’t ask for time to sort this out, to check these plans out with Joseph and the rest of her family.  She doesn’t shrink back from doing the right thing simply because she is confused because below her confusion there is a trust in God’s grace and truth that gets activated and that brings everything else into it’s right place.

Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let this thing you have said happen to me!”

Luke 1:38

Heavenly Father, we wonder how people like Joseph and Mary could have responded as they did to such extraordinary announcements.  How could they rise above the shock and confusion and devastating threats to their reputations?  And yet they did.  You poured Your grace into them and filled their hearts with Your truth so they could rise above everything else.

You are the God who never changes and so we trust that today You are prepared and ready to do that for us as we try to navigate in our world that throws shocking and devasting news at us in so many ways on so many occasions.

As Mary prayed, so we pray and make space in our hearts and lives so that whatever You say, can happen.  Amen

God saved the world through the baby announced to Mary – something way too wonderful for her to truly understand in the confusion of the moment.  God has wonderful things to work out in our lives that we cannot begin to imagine today.  Let’s humbly surrender to Him and watch with expectation.