When we think of the great heroes of faith, it’s easy to consider Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, and the Apostle Paul, among others. Still, perhaps we overlook Mary’s heroic faith, which defied human comfort and reshaped our shallow view of vulnerability. She shattered stereotypes by her simple submission—though, no doubt, her submission wasn’t perfect.
She was as human as the rest of us, which is a great breath of relief when I wonder if I’m discounted from God’s great plan, yet her bold obedience calls us to understand three key truths about trusting in God’s plan:
It’s Unconventional
God works outside human reason and understanding. After all, as our Maker, He has outside knowledge we aren’t privy to. Thus, His omniscience reigns supreme, and rightfully so. I find peace in knowing that the most knowledgeable and intelligent being is the God who daily chooses to love us and unconditionally extend grace, compassion, and mercy. Indeed, his character and wisdom are impeccable.
These undeniable facts make it clear that God’s plan is often unconventional by human standards. He doesn’t make decisions guided by fear, greed, selfishness, or confusion. He isn’t hasty, irrational, or spur-of-the-moment. God doesn’t make decisions to only hold His breath in hopes that they work out. He is steady and sure, even when things seem wild to us.
I admire Mary’s immediate submission to God’s plan, as she replies to the angel delivering the news of her calling to birth the Savior, “‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled’ (Luke 1:38, NIV). But I wonder if her following thoughts weren’t similar to what mine would have been:
“I am betrothed—what will Joseph do with me? He could have me stoned to death!”
“Will anyone believe me? Our people have been too miserable for too long to believe the Savior is finally here.”
“Who am I to birth the Savior? How do I mother God in the flesh, when He knows all things?”
“I’m going to mess this up. Big time.”
“Maybe I dreamed this? Wished it into existence? Let my pride make this whole thing up?”
“What do I do now?”
Yes, Mary found favor in God’s eyes. She was a worthy woman, but she was a human, a woman who still needed her Baby to come to earth and sacrifice His life for her sins. And I wonder if this incredibly scandalous, unconventional plan of God’s didn’t have her heart and mind restless.
I share these thoughts to remind you that God’s plan will rarely “make sense,” especially if we are pleading for His miracles and intervention. At this point, we are begging Him to work outside our limited capacity, so we shouldn’t be surprised when the path He paves for our hearts and souls is anything but typical.
Besides, how boring would it be to have a God who isn’t creative enough to draft the most cliff-hanging, edge-of-your-seat, unfathomably beautiful stories?
It’s Uncomfortable
I thought I knew pain until I had my first son. When I discovered I was pregnant, I did some research. I decided to bypass the epidural, encouraged by several sisters in Christ that if I wanted to have a more natural birth, by God’s grace and endurance, I could. And friends, I will never regret this choice, but I will never say it was easy. I’ll never pretend to be Superwoman, either.
My water broke naturally, which is such a gift for a first pregnancy, but my body wouldn’t dilate. After three hours of my body refusing to progress, my son’s health was threatened, as he remained in the womb without any amniotic fluid. The safest medical move was for the nurses to give me Pitocin, a medicine that induces dilation and contractions. Whew! When they told me “You’ll feel a little cramping,” they were using my ignorance to shield me from the worst physical pain I have ever experienced.
I will quickly tell you that after four hours of breathing through medically-induced contractions, I whispered to the nurse through gritted teeth, “Is it too late for the epidural?” She nodded her head, so I accepted a fate I would have otherwise backed out on. (So much for Miss All-Natural, Tough Girl Mama, right?)
Bravery is so fickle in human hands. It lasts only for spurts. Then, most often, we spiral. Or collapse, whether fear, exhaustion, or both overtake us.
The big, beautiful, brave things aren’t a product of our human ability, but God’s design to use our discomfort to make His presence known. This is also why I share with people that, outside of experiencing Christ’s salvation, I have never felt His presence so thickly as I did the evening after I had my son. He took my weakness and fear and exchanged them for a precious little life.
God’s ultimate plan is to defeat sin and bring glory to His name; therefore, don’t be surprised when He forces our flesh to become uncomfortable to bring His supernatural healing to our world.
It’s Unstoppable
I find so much comfort in the Lord’s Prayer. It’s often overlooked due to popularity. It’s usually sped through in the name of repetition. But when I slow down and focus on the depth of the words, when I remind myself that this is the exact model for prayer shown by Christ Himself, I understand the disservice I do to His guidance. Slowly, intentionally, consider these words (I prefer the 21st Century King James Version, as the literary devices are stunning):
“In this manner, therefore, pray ye: Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory for ever. Amen.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:9-14).
I wonder if Jesus taught us to pray “Thy will be done” because it truly is His “Kingdom, and the power and the glory for ever. Amen.” He is using our act of submission in prayer to affirm the truth that He reigns forever.
God knows how the story ends. He knows that through His Son’s sacrifice and resurrection, the victory is His. It’s ours too if we surrender our hearts and souls to His love and will. And since we are confident that He is good and brings all things to fruition for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28), we can find great peace and joy in the truth that His plan is truly unstoppable.
His Plan for Your Life
Some days, I feel insignificant, as if I’ve done nothing big enough for God to use me. Other days, I feel unworthy, as if the big, bad things I’ve done have discounted me from partaking in His plan. But this is when I remember that God doesn’t operate within my level of understanding.
When I feel insignificant, He says I am seen, worthy, and treasured. When I feel too far gone, Jesus reminds me that He left the 99 to chase after me. My ordinariness, failures, and all of this can’t and won’t prevent God’s unconventional, sometimes uncomfortable, yet forever unstoppable plan from being fulfilled.
Perhaps that’s the most incredible Christmas miracle of all!
Photo credit: © Getty Images/Katarina Gondova
