The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be as you have said…”
Luke 1:35-38
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth to a virgin pledged to be married to Joseph. Her name was Mary, and the angel told her the Lord was with her and she was highly favored. The angel’s words troubled Mary because she did not understand what he meant. But the angel told her not to be afraid because she had found favor with God; she would give birth to a baby named Jesus. He would be the Son of the Most High and God would give Him the throne of David. Can you imagine what must have gone through Mary’s head at that moment? We do know from Scripture that she questioned how this could happen since she was a virgin. The angel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, overshadowing her and she would be with child. The angel said that even her cousin Elizabeth would have a baby in her old age.
All of these things must have seemed impossible to young Mary, but her response reflected her trust in God: with God all things are possible.
With these things swirling in her head, she could have questioned the angel further; she could have been in disbelief, but instead she chose to believe, knowing that her God could do anything. Not only was she certain that her God was able to do these things, but she did not ask him to reconsider. What would people think? She was a virgin and would disgrace her family because no one would believe her. Would Joseph still marry her? Surely these things troubled her, but she chose to trust: May it be as you have said.
On the eve of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, consider those things that seem impossible in your life – a broken relationship, a suffering friend, an issue of poor health. Whatever it may be, nothing is impossible for God. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to do the impossible – what we could not do ourselves. He saved us from our sin and suffering, and in the midst of the seemingly impossible, He breaks through as the great Morning Star. His light shines in the darkest places, in the places of uncertainty, and a new day dawns.
Heavenly Father,
I give You all my fears for the New Year – the places of uncertainty, the things that seem impossible. Like Mary, I declare that with You all things are possible as I wait for the dawning of a new day.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
