Wondering vs Worrying
The Christmas story never gets old and I always seem to take away something new. I've been focusing on the amazement that Mary chose to wonder instead of worry.
When Gabriel paid Mary a visit to let her know about her impending pregnancy he began with this greeting: “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28
It makes it sound like when someone has won the Publisher's Clearing House jackpot, if that is even still a thing. Luke 1:29 says, Mary was confused by the angel's words about having a baby and wondered what they meant. Mary questioned: “How can this happen? I am not even married!” v 34 Then Gabriel says, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God.” v 35
Hmm, maybe Mary didn't want to ruffle this warrior angels feathers and replies with a most agreeable (submissive) attitude, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” V 38
Sans the angelic encounter, which I feel certainly packed a HUGE punch, think of the last thing the Lord requested of you. Maybe it was to move somewhere that wouldn’t have been your first choice, maybe it was an unexpected pregnancy, or the loss of someone WAY before the time you were ready to say good-bye. Maybe it was simply to forgive someone who has wounded your heart.
With wonderment in your voice, did you quickly reply, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen!” Or did you worry?
God has a calling on each of our lives. While we may not have had an angel deliver the messages, we have the entire Bible that speaks to our hearts. Let’s read over these translations and ask ourselves if we can be found faithful to respond to life’s surprises, which are not always convenient and of our choosing, in the way of wonderment like Mary did.
Check out several translations of Luke 2:19...
But Mary treasured all these things, giving careful thought to them and pondering them in her heart. (AMP)
But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. (CSB)
Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. (CEB)
But Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant. (CEV)
But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. (DRA)
Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them.(ERV)
Mary remembered everything that the shepherds had said. She thought about it all for a long time. (EASY)
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told! (MSG)
Giving God’s Word careful thought, treasuring it, meditating upon it, memorizing it, keeping on thinking about it, asking the Holy Spirit to help us understand it, bringing it to remembrance in the tough times, praising God for it and holding it dear will turn our worries to the wonders of God.
Mary, thank you for your example.
The Song
“Breathe of Heaven” (Mary’s Song) Leanna Crawford
