Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. 
Luke 1: 36-38

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I had difficulty keeping up with my life—a split classroom of 5th and 6th graders and a strawberry blonde, feisty chick of my own at home. Suddenly, I began to lose weight, all pep, and finally went to a doctor expecting a severe flu or spastic colon diagnosis. After the physical, the doctor left the room for a moment and quickly returned with a slip of paper with the word positive written in bold letters. 

“What does positive mean?” I cried. Smiling, “Positively pregnant,” he said. “No, it can’t be—I just came in for medicine,” I said in disbelief. 

A new God-created human lived inside of me. It was no laughing matter, but I did. 

Imagine for a moment today’s passage. Mary gets a bombshell memo from God, via the angel Gabriel, that she will become the mother of God’s son, even though she was a virgin and engaged to Joseph. 

We read in Luke 1 that the angel tells Mary that God’ highly favors’ her—but Luke tells us that Mary is greatly troubled. Gabriel explains God himself will plant this baby in her womb. 

In other words, her body would cradle God’s beloved son, as prophesied in Isaiah 7:14. This verse pre-announced the event and tells that Jesus would also be called Immanuel, “God with us.” Besides a virgin becoming the mother of Jesus, God states that He would reside in all of us.

I like to think that Mary knew of this prophecy and the virgin birth, and, at the end of her conversation with Gabriel, she responds, 

“I am the Lord’s servant, may your word  to me be fulfilled.” 

Mary’s humble response reveals her character. She was facing mass ridicule because she wasn’t officially married but trusted in God and his miraculous plan. She knew God was with her and would help her navigate the challenges ahead.

Often, God asks us to do things, and sometimes, we feel inept. Thirty-five years ago, I received unexpected news in my doctor’s office. God’s timing doesn’t always jive with ours, but He is always with us in our journey. Despite the unusual situation, Mary understood and said yes to raising the Savior of the World.

Next Steps

• Spend time in prayer. What is God asking of you today?
• Listen to this classic, one-hit wonder written by Mark Lowry; may you be blessed today with the words of this song.