Are You Willing?
In the Christmas season joy and wonder fill the air as we remember and meditate on the birth of our Savior. And through the season of reading many Christmas books to my children I can’t help but notice that even the retelling straight from the Bible keeps the birth of Jesus incredibly straightforward. I know that the birth itself was not intended to be glorified but instead the one who was birthed.
However, as a mom who has endured four unmedicated labors and deliveries I wanted to take a moment to speculate about Mary in those late hours of the night in a stable.
We know that Mary’s initial attitude toward Gabriel‘s news was, “confused and disturbed” (Luke 1:29) but nearing the end of those verses she becomes willing. She was shocked, confused, and in slight disbelief but she trusted the Lord. She was willing to move into His plan regardless of knowing the next steps.
How true is that of ourselves? When the Lord presents us with a path, how willing are we to take it? The truth is, for many of us -myself included- we are less than submissive to God’s ways and look for what would be more conducive to our own plans.
Think about Mary, lying in a damp, dirty, odorous stable as Joseph embraced her through contractions. Did her mind wander to those original emotions: fear, uncertainty? Did she begin to have doubts? As the pain intensified, did she want to change her mind? I can’t answer these questions but we do know the end to this story.
Mary took deep cleansing breaths on the putrid stench of the hay covered floor. She leaned into pain. She took hold of her knees. She pushed past herself, through herself, clinging to the strength of the one whom she bore. She nursed and cradled her small babe closely. We don’t know if she fully grasped the fullness of the life she held in her hands. We do know she didn’t waiver from what God had called her to do.
And God didn’t waiver from His promises, either. Her sweet infant grew up to be a man who saved all of humanity through His poignant death on the Cross. God did as He said, and Mary allowed the Lord to use her.
Whether you are being led to a new career, begin recovery, reconcile a relationship, forgive someone, lead a Bible study, minister to someone, stand up for injustice, write a book, homeschool your child(ren), or simply invest in your marriage are you going to waiver? Are you willing? Are you all-in with Gods calling for you?
God will not deter from His plan. He will not relinquish His design. You can trust Him.
I pray, you will trust Him today with whatever He is calling you toward. I pray you will be willing.
