Mary and God’s Will

Kathy White
Divisional Field Director

We long to find God’s will for our lives! In I Thess. 5:18, Paul instructs us in how to find it!  “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (NIV).

Mary comes to mind at Christmas as we see the will of God intersecting with history through the birth of Jesus—in the life of a young girl.

Just think about Mary and her experience—conversations with an angel, a cosmic pregnancy, being the controversial focal point of her small community, a new marriage, and then having a baby who was the most extraordinary Child ever born—the fully human, fully divine Savior of the world. I think the key to Mary and her ability to navigate this amazing journey in God’s will is found in Luke 2:19: which tells us that after the shepherds left “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

The original Greek word for ponder in this verse is symbollo: meaning to dispute with, to confer with, meet with, to ponder.

Mary didn’t just react to all that was happening, she took time to ponder the amazing events unfolding before her eyes. To process them with God, conferring with Him, thinking about His plans and trustworthiness. She was then able to respond with amazing confidence in God’s will for her life. Her wonderful response is found in Luke 1:46-55.

Take time to read this wonderful song and as you praise God with Mary, think of your circumstances in light of who He is. Thanking God puts all of life’s circumstances into perspective; under His sovereignty, His power, and His plans. Mary praised God for what He was doing through her and it enabled her to raise the Son of God and endure all the pain and joys that would follow.

During this Christmas season, and beyond, let’s not just react in a flurry to life and all its demands, but may we find God’s will as we ponder and  respond to God as Mary did—with thanksgiving!