“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:34 NIV
Are you one who wants to know the details – all of them? Such as, when you are asked to attend an event, you want the specifics to decide if it’s worth it? Or are you okay with knowing little?
Neither is wrong, per se.
As in – it’s okay to want/need details, but it can be problematic if we are paralyzed if we do not get them. Because many times we are not given the details; we need to be fine with that.
This is where faith steps in.
I tend to be more on the context gathering side. I like details. I study the Bible and gather as many details as I can when looking at a passage. I look at the original language, the verses surrounding the main verse, and I try to answer the 5 W’s and an H. I know, I’m weird. If you have done the Strength’s test you would see context as being one of my strengths.
However. But. There are times when I have to trust without knowing all the facts. And it has taken me years to be a less in the know (by no means having perfected it) and willing to wait. I guess one could call it a control thing. The more I know the more I am in control.
Go on any mission’s trip and one quickly learns to let control go out the door. Or become a parent. Have an injury. Being human. Life is uncertain and when we hold on with a vice grip doused in super glue – there will be a lot of tearing, ripping and pain.
Think of our main protagonist in our verse: Mary.
A young woman (some would say early teens), going about her normal daily life. Living in small town Nazareth, somewhat poor and impoverished by many standards.
An angel appears. Right there would be enough to set anyone back a moment. Think on this scene: very unusual, bright, holy. And the angel spoke! She did not know this: his name is Gabriel. We are given the information in Scripture.
And Gabriel gives her news. A whooper, so to speak. Big news. Good news. Different news. Could-be-shameful news.
We are not told if she heard the news about her relative Elizabeth, seeing how she secluded herself for five months, and it’s probable Mary was too young to be a part of the rumor mill. But, here she is with news of her own, and Gabriel tells her in a moment about Elizabeth being with child (verse 36).
What is fascinating is the two responses we find in one chapter – that of Zechariah (Elizabeth’s husband) and that of Mary. Zechariah was told his wife was to have a child in her old age after all those years of barrenness and he asked,
“How can I be sure of this?” Luke 1:18
Notice the hint of doubt. It is here Zechariah gets himself into trouble. He came back with doubt and unbelief, while Mary responded with acceptance and belief. As we see above in Luke 1:34 –
“How will this be?”
Hers was not one of doubt but of fact finding – since she was young and never knew a man, how was this miracle to happen? She did not question that it was going to happen, but rather the ‘mechanics’ of it.
Which brings us to, well, us. Where do we fall? Where and how do you respond? What do I say when I am approached by God with a new thing?
Do we respond immediately with doubt – "I do not believe it! There is absolutely no way!! I will not believe until I see __________! There is no way this would happen." These are the reasons why this event will not and cannot take place. And we list them, alphabetically at times.
Or do we sit back and ponder, ask a few clarifying questions, possibly, and just believe? We may be caught off guard by the visitation from God, but not caught off guard in knowing He sees us and has something for us.
That’s another thing – God sees Mary. He calls her highly favored. She is known by the LORD of all. For that matter, so is Zechariah. God knew where he was when Gabriel spoke to him. Zechariah was in the temple serving. He was a noble, righteous man. He too was seen.
God does see us and longs for a relationship with us. And he will meet us where we are – Zechariah was met in the Temple and Mary was met in her home and/or village. God is in the ordinary things of life – but the difference is, they become extraordinary when we encounter Him.
What about you? Are you in a season of silence from God and are waiting to hear from Him? Hold on. He sees you.
Or maybe, He has spoken, but you have cast your doubt out just like bait on a line. How about responding in faith, even if it does not make sense. We are to walk by faith, not sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) and faith is believing without seeing (Hebrews 11:1).
Let us walk in and by faith. Period.
PRAYER
Father God, it is amazing how You like to interrupt our lives with Your goodness. You desire to grow us into more like Your Son and You give us opportunities to choose to believe or to doubt. May we choose belief every time. May we continue to trust You are good and what You do is good. Always.
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