Mary said today’s verse when she was pregnant with Jesus, the Savior of the world. What an amazing woman she must have been to see this as a blessing. I guess that’s why God chose her. He knew all about her optimism and strength. And most importantly, her faith.
If someone had told me, “Ok, you’re going to be pregnant now, even though you live in a place where the perception of infidelity can get you killed. And you will raise a child who is supposed to save all humanity. Oh and by the way, you will get to watch him be brutally executed in his mid-30s,” I doubt that I would have sung this song of praise to God right away. I wouldn’t have thought, “What a blessing!” I may have been feeling a little more cursed.
But that’s me. Good thing God didn’t select me.
He didn’t choose me because I’m more of a worrier and a pessimist. (Not something I’m proud of, and definitely something I want to change.)
I would have worried throughout the whole pregnancy that I would do something stupid to hurt this special baby. And then while raising the child I’d worry about doing the right things, saying the right things, teaching the right things. Could I somehow screw up the child so badly that he wouldn’t end up saving the world after all? And then I’d constantly worry about the day when he would be killed. Can I stop it? How can I protect him? Will it be today?
I have a lot to learn from Mary’s simple song of amazement, hope, trust, and gratitude.
Dear God,
I’m sorry that I react with fear instead of joy when you give me the simplest of challenges. Please show me how to replace my worry with trust, my pessimism with hopeful anticipation, and my dread with gratefulness. Teach me to have faith like Mary, knowing you are Mighty and Holy and Great. I trust you to provide everything I need to confidently and competently manage everything you place in my hands.
CamDevo 