Wonder!

Shelley | Posted on December 22, 2019 |

While Mary waited, she had to wonder – what did the angel Gabriel’s message about her coming son mean? He said, “the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32b-33NIV). Would he be a king? Would he be the one to free her people from Roman control? What would it be like to raise this child, and what would he be like as a man?

After the angel’s visit, Mary went to stay for a few months with her relative. Elizabeth greeted her with these words, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me” (1:42-43)? What went through Mary’s mind when she heard these words? After all, that’s no ordinary greeting!

In just a couple of verses, we see that Mary’s musings were connected with a different kind of wonder – the wonder and awe of God. Instead of allowing her uncertainties and the unknowns to potentially overwhelm her, she focused on the One who held all of the answers. “And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior … for the mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name.'”(1:46-47, 49).

Let’s not forget the trek to Bethlehem months later. Due to give birth any day and traversing the miles on foot – maybe on a donkey, Mary had a lot of time to wonder about the coming birth and the accommodations she and Joseph would find in the town. Not knowing the details of what was to come was probably a good thing. Often, we ask for the “billboard” so we know what to expect or what decisions to make. We find out that, usually, we’re glad we didn’t know ahead of time.

Mary’s focus was not on her pondering. She was filled with wonder at the baby she was carrying, and she rejoiced in God her Savior. What a difference it will make in your life if, instead of wondering how you will get everything done, what this coming year will hold, or how a situation will work out, you will take a few moments to allow your heart and mind to be centered on God. You too will be filled with awe and wonder!