"A Virgin?"

The story of Jesus' birth is one of the most miraculous and well-known stories of faith in the Bible. Luke 1:30-31 gives us a glimpse into the miraculous nature of God's favor and timing. Mary, a young virgin, was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah, and her response is one of humility and faith. She had no idea of what she was getting herself into.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and declared she would be the mother of the Messiah, she was filled with confusion and fear. The angel said to her, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God." (Luke 1:30 KJV). Mary had just been told that she had been chosen by God for an extraordinary task. She was overwhelmed by the news and asked, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" (Luke 1:34 KJV). Yet, despite her fears, she accepted God’s will and submitted to His plan.

Mary's submission to God's favor and timing was not only remarkable, but it was also the source of much pain. She faced criticism from her peers, and her fiancé Joseph "put her away" and tried to hide her being pregnant. Her son, Jesus, was rejected and eventually murdered. It is a testament to Mary's faith that she was willing to accept the consequences of bearing the world's only hope.

The Bible also teaches us that God's favor does not always lead to instant success or fame. In fact, sometimes, it leads to hard times, pain, and suffering. This is why it is so important to rely on faith in God's timing and plan. Isaiah 55:8 reads, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." This means that God's plans may not always make sense to us, but we can trust that He knows what’s best.

The story of Mary and Jesus’ birth is a reminder that God's favor and timing are often accompanied by hard times. But it is also a reminder that God is always working out a plan for our lives. Even if sorrow weighs us down and dims our hope, we can wait patiently for God to finish the work He has started. As the apostle Paul said, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).

Mary's story teaches us a valuable lesson about God's favor and timing. It reminds us that God's favor does not always bring instant success or fame. It also reminds us that, even in the midst of hard times, we can trust that He is working out a plan for our lives. All we have to do is wait patiently for Him and trust in His perfect plan. ©Rita Larson 11/30/2023

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