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It's Going to Work Out: Lessons from Mary's Faith
As we conclude the year, we're reminded of one of the most powerful truths in Scripture: God always keeps His promises. In a world filled with broken commitments and failed expectations, the story of Mary offers us hope that when God makes a promise, it will come to pass.
Why Do Promises Get Broken?
We live in a culture of broken promises. Politicians make campaign pledges they never fulfill. People stand at altars promising "till death do us part" only to break those vows. We promise ourselves we'll exercise more, pray more, or change bad habits, then fail to follow through.
Broken promises have made us numb to promise-making because we've experienced so much promise-breaking. We've heard "the check is in the mail," "I love you," and countless other commitments that were never honored.
What Makes Christmas Different?
Christmas reminds us that God is different. The beauty of Christmas isn't about when Jesus was born, but that He was born. This celebration represents the fulfillment of God's ancient promise to send a Savior.
The story begins with an angel visiting an unlikely candidate in an unlikely place. Gabriel bypassed the important city of Jerusalem and the region of Judea to visit a poor, powerless teenage girl in the insignificant village of Nazareth.
Why Did God Choose Mary?
What made Mary special was that she was so unspecial. God chose an ordinary, run-of-the-mill teenage girl and used her in an extraordinarily way. Mary was present both at Jesus' birth and His crucifixion - she saw Him come into the world as her son and leave the world as her Savior.
God chose Mary strictly because of His grace, and He was able to use her because she gave God a "yes." The same principles that allowed God to bless and use Mary can work in our lives today.
How Can God Use You Like He Used Mary?
1. Decide to Believe God's Word
Put yourself in Mary's position. She was poor, probably illiterate, uneducated, and had no spiritual credentials. Without warning, an angel appeared announcing she would become pregnant while still unmarried. Nothing about this situation screamed "God is with me."
Yet Mary demonstrated faith - holding onto uncertainties with passionate conviction. She trusted not because the circumstances were affirming, but because the voice of God was clear.
God may have bigger plans for you than anyone has ever imagined. Even when you're unconscious of God, He's not unconscious of you. His plan for your life may include things that eyes have not seen and ears have not heard.
Don't let others' perceptions define what you think about yourself. If you don't live for other people's praise, you won't die from their criticism. Get on your knees and ask God to show you who you are and what's possible for your life.
2. Determine to Do God's Will
It's one thing to say you believe God's word, but the real test is whether you're determined to do God's will. God's promises aren't just to be believed - they're to be behaved.
Mary's response was remarkable: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." She was declaring that God was in control and she was in agreement, regardless of the cost.
Saying yes to God's will wasn't easy for Mary. She risked her reputation, her relationships, and her future. Nobody would believe her story. She would face gossip and judgment. She could have lost everything, including Joseph.
God's will for your life isn't always going to be easy. Sometimes God's plan will be harder than your plan because God is more interested in developing your character than ensuring your comfort.
3. Desire to Prioritize God's Worship
Despite facing an uncertain future, Mary's response was worship: "My soul exalts the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior."
What's striking is that her praise happened before the outcome. She praised God prior to any proof. She was still single, poor, and facing potential scandal, yet she gave God praise.
When you're in over your head, don't worry - worship. Don't panic - give God praise. For every problem there's a promise, and for every promise there's a provision.
What Should You Praise God For?
You should praise God for His grace. Mary's situation worked out solely because of God's grace - His unmerited favor and undeserved blessings.
Grace is God's lavish love leaking into every corner of your life. It's an answered prayer you never prayed, an open door you never knocked on, a promotion you didn't apply for. It's a yes when it should have been a no.
Everything you have - your house, car, education, clothes - is all grace. The fact that you've messed up but God didn't give up on you is grace.
Life Application
This week, choose to live like Mary by giving God a "yes" in three specific ways:
Believe God's Word: Stop letting others' opinions define your potential. Spend time asking God to show you His plans for your life, which may be bigger than anything you've imagined.
Do God's Will: Identify one area where you know God is calling you to obedience but you've been hesitating because it seems difficult or costly. Take that step of faith this week.
Worship in Advance: Practice praising God before you see the outcome. When worry or panic tries to take over, choose worship instead.
Questions for Reflection:
What promises has God made that you're struggling to believe?
In what area of your life do you need to say "yes" to God's will, even though it seems difficult?
How can you worship God in advance for what He's going to do, rather than waiting to see the results first?
What evidence of God's grace can you identify in your life right now?
Remember: It's going to work out. God's grace is sufficient, His promises are true, and when you align your life with His will through faith, worship, and obedience, you position yourself to experience His best for your life.
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