Woman of the Bible: Mary

What is your Assignment?

Have you ever been called to do something in your life that ROCKED YOUR WORLD?

EVER. When you were little, a teen, young adult or now? EVER? Has something happened to you that you had no control over that changed your life forever?

Did life happen to you, the life you didn’t plan for, expect or want? Some of the things that come to mind are;
- job loss
- you thought you’d have a child by now
- expectedly become a widow or divorced
- sexual abuse
- health issue
- single longer than you thought you’d be
- or are you a single mom, something you didn’t expect
- rejected by your mother
- rejected by your father
- your church disappointed or judged you
- betrayed by your husband
- maybe you betrayed your husband
- maybe you have experienced lose from someone close to you

All of these things could rock a woman’s world. They could bring consequences, shame, guilt, sadness, depression, anxiety, pain, suffering. We don’t expect any of these things to happen but they could, they are the reality of life. Suffering and pain are real and they happen. Christians are non-exempt.

I’d like to challenge you, through the lens of Mary’s story to consider your own story and your assignment. 

This is Mary’s story:

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. For the word of God will never fail.” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth and says: Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. Story from Luke 1 (I added the bold).

God’s assignment on Mary’s life was to have a baby, our Savior, while she was still a virgin and engaged to Joseph; (a story for another day). 

What options did she have? Would she have taken them and gone out of God’s will for her life? How would she be able to handle the unknown? What would everyone say? Did she feel shame or fear?

There’s no mention of her mother or father in this story to support her. Was she alone in her assignment? How would she be supported financially?  

Would she become homeless? Friendless? Hopeless?

I know I pose a lot of questions, but I can’t help to think about them. I’m being honest. What would I have done?

Mary was a sinner, Romans 3:23, but God still shows his mercy and extends his favor on her. Mary needed a Savior just like each of us. She glorified and worshiped Jesus her Savior over her position as the mother of her Savior in verse 47: “My soul rejoices and praises my Savior.” She acknowledged Jesus as Savior, worthy to be praised and worshiped. Even in uncertainty. 

Mary trusted God in her assignment. 

The scripture says she was confused and disturbed. She didn’t understand the fullness of her future. It was probably shocking! But in her confusion, she was calm, faithful and obedient. 

Mary trusted God in her assignment. 

She had faith in God with her future even though she didn’t know the whole story.  

This was something out of the ordinary which resulted in something extraordinary.

What we know about God:
God knew Mary before the foundation of the world for this assignment; Psalm 139:16
God provided confirmation for Mary through her cousin Elizabeth’s acknowledgement of who she was
For God, nothing is impossible – his word can never fail
God will show mercy from generation to generation who are in awe of him
God cared for Mary and provided for her

God’s grace has been with me every day with my health. He’s sustains me not only physically but also emotionally and spiritually. I trust God with my future and acknowledge the merciful miracle which he granted me which I will share at the annual retreat on March 16, 2019. I’ll tell my story then.

Now, this is Christmas and I want us to end on a note of joy and hope.

A Savior was born.
Jesus Christ is our Savior.

As we think about Mary’s story and legacy as it relates to our own assignment, we can rest in knowing that God will give the mercy and grace to endure it. I don’t know how. But I have to go on his promise, vs. 50. Whatever God has called you to, he is in it with you. He loves you and knew you before the foundation of the world was created. He knows every unborn child just like he knew his own son, Jesus. John 17:24

God said the Word would become Flesh. And it did. God sent us his son Jesus who had an assignment: 
- To heal the brokenhearted
- To proclaim freedom to the captives
- to comfort those who mourn
- to give beauty from ashes
- to give joy for mourning
- the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness
Isaiah 61
If God has given you an assignment, he will bring you through it. Relying on the Truths of God is where our hope is. God is Provider, Merciful, Love, Gracious, Caring, Healer, Omniscient. 

“Instead of your shame you shall have double honor. Instead of confusion you shall rejoice in your portion. Everlasting joy will be yours”    
Isaiah 61:7

Jesus is our hope. 
We can trust the same God that Mary did in all of our circumstances. 

We are not called to understand everything. God tells us that his ways are not our ways. We don’t see things the way God knows them to be. Isaiah 55:8. God sees the whole picture. He sees it and knows all of our circumstance from afar and from before the foundation of the world was created.

Emmanuel means God is with us. He’s with you. 

Will you trust God with your assignment?

Merry Christmas and may our very alive and real God make his presence known to you in your assignment. 


Love, 
April

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