12th December Advent Devotion – Getting Comfortable with the Impossible
Hello,
Discerning the nature of the voice we hear is really important. It’s the first step to how we respond to the news we receive.
The second step is to become aware of our attitude and if necessary talk to God about it and realign our hearts.
Then like Mary we can make our response to God.
I’ve discovered this process can take me an hour, a day, or months depending on the issue. That’s ok as long as it happens in relationship with God. Be like Mary, don’t be afraid of starting your own conversation with God, asking Him questions, telling him your concerns, listening to His vision, purpose and promise. Get to the place where you see as He sees. Such conversations empower us with trust, peace and strength to walk with him in the journey ahead.
Photo taken in Drenthe Netherlands by Karen Way |
Luke 1:26-38 tells us how God sent an Angel to Mary.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 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. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 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.
Their interaction is amazing in so many ways. He speaks of what is humanly impossible, her pregnancy. I love how comfortable God is with the impossible, and how gracious and understanding He is towards us, knowing how uncomfortable we are in such circumstances.
What happens within you when circumstances present something impossible?
- Is it the voice of unbelief? “well that door is closed” Perhaps feelings of frustration, disappointment, fear or despair.
- Is it the voice of curiosity or questioning “but how? can it really happen?”
- Is it the voice of anticipation? I can’t see how, but I know God will make a way.”
I love how the Angel brings affirmation of who God is, a personal testimony that speaks directly to Mary, “Elizabeth your cousin in her old age, barren, is six months pregnant and that wonderful revelation “For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Yet in all this wonder the greatest life transforming aspect is the condition of Mary’s heart – Humility. Mary decided in her heart “Here I am, the Lord’s humble servant. As you have said let it be done to me.”
I love Amanda Cook’s song ‘You don’t miss a thing.’ It expresses so much of God’s heart and ours as we process the things that happen in our lives and most of all the truth that we cannot go beyond His love for us. Be encouraged as you worship today.