And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant; for behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.”
After spending time with others, you begin to learn what is important to them. The way they spend their days, the things they talk about, and their attitudes as they go through their daily routines all speak to the things they value. When it comes to obligations, people may fulfill their duties with disinterest and apathy. When people are passionate about a given task, they will complete it with more thought and investment.
When Mary was called to be the mother of Jesus, she could’ve reacted several ways. She could have thought about how she would look to others in the present moment, bringing scandal and shame on her name and family. She could have thought about the unknowns of the future and all the potential burdens of being the mother of the Messiah. She could have moved toward disbelief, resistant to the idea until she saw proof. Instead of reacting based on human inclination, she looked to God.
Even with all the unknowns, she trusted God and exalted His name. Sometimes it is difficult for us to trust God because we don’t know what He will call us to if we truly surrender to Him. We get overwhelmed instead of trusting God to walk with us. Mary’s testimony reminds us of the safety in surrender to God and the joy that comes in walking with Him.
- What were some of the challenges Mary faced in becoming the mother of Jesus? Did that change her attitude toward this opportunity? Why or why not?
- What are some hesitations you have about completely surrendering to God? What are some of the things you fear He might call you to? Why can we trust Him with these things?
- Pray and be honest with God about the things you are afraid of doing for Him. Ask Him to guide you to live for Him like Mary, with faith and surrender even in the unknowns.
