“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!”

The above profound words were spoken by Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist to Mary.

Despite the bizarre, and extraordinary, circumstances in which Mary found herself. Mary trusted God. She submitted herself to whatever He had chosen for her to do. This was not easy. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, and told her that she was going to bear a child, who would be the promised Messiah. Her first response was that she didn’t know how this could happen, since she was a virgin, but when Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her, and that she would carry the Son of God, she was quick to respond “may it be done to me according to your word’ (Luke 1:38).

As a young woman, Mary probably had her own plans for her life. In the culture and times that she was living in, being pregnant and unmarried was not a common phenomenon and was definitely looked down upon. In fact, her fiancé Joseph wanted to quietly leave her on finding out about her pregnancy. Women in her position were stoned to death, yet she was not worried about herself or her reputation. She chose to accept the plan of God for her life irrespective of the consequences. she understood God is infinitely greater and wiser than she is, and she chose to trust in His plans and timing.

Mary teaches us that our assignment is not to try and figure out the how’s and whys, of God, but to believe God and take Him at His word. God’s word will never fail. Heaven and earth will pass away but His word will remain forever (Matt 24:35).

She praised God before the fulfilment of the promise. Her praise was a praise of faith. She praised before she could see because she believed that the Lord would do what He said. For Mary, what God had promised was as good as done. It is impossible for God to lie. There’s no shadow of turning with Him. He is a Sovereign God. Let us learn from Mary who demonstrated such great faith. Like it reads in the book of Hebrews lets “imitate her faith” — and believe that what God has said to US about OUR circumstances, will also be fulfilled.

Embrace God’s calling with a willing and open heart, trust His guidance and provision every step of the way.

God Bless you.