Mary Said Yes to God

Mary and the angel Gabriel

Mary Said Yes to God

I am extremely thankful Mary said yes to God. Aren’t you?

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she was highly favored by God, Mary said yes. Not only did the mother of Christ say yes to delivering the Son of the Lord Most High, Mary said yes to much, much more.

What Saying Yes to God Cost Mary

Have you ever considered what saying yes to God cost Mary?

Considering the laws of the day, Mary knew saying yes might cost her the future she planned with Joseph. It might cost her his love, his devotion, his protection.

gossipy girlsSaying yes could very easily cost Mary her life once news of her un-wed pregnancy got out to the public.

For certain it cost her reputation and countless wagging fingers and tongues. Don’t you think?

Nevertheless, Mary willingly laid down her hopes and dreams and became the vessel The Almighty Father could use to fulfill his plan of salvation to a lost and dying world. 

Mary Continued to Say Yes

I imagine some of Mary’s yeses weren’t easy. Still. The one highly favored, highly blessed, by the Lord trusted him enough to say yes when Gabriel appeared to her in Nazareth. She kept right on saying yes, too.

By saying yes to God’s plan, Mary said yes to traveling to Bethlehem on the back of a donkey at a very pregnant nine months. She said yes to giving birth to God’s son in a cold, dank, stinky stable away from the care of her mother and other family members.

Mary said yes to having strangers see her child before those close to her were able to. The young mother said yes to the bewilderment and awe Jesus’ birth created.

She said yes when Joseph told her God said they should leave and flee to Egypt. Egypt? Hadn’t God warned his people not to go down to Egypt?

Mary said yes when her son left home to become an itinerant preacher.

Highly favored Mary continued to say yes to God. Even when her yes led to the foot of the cross where her precious, dearly loved son was brutally murdered by the very ones he came to save.

The Faith to Say Yes to God

Oh, that we would have such faith and trust to lay down our own hopes and dreams to answer yes to woman looking upward to heaveneach of God’s opportunities to be part of his plans and purposes.

To have the faith to be willing to lose the love of those close to us to follow God’s will. If that was what God required.

To exhibit the kind of faith that trusted enough not to concern ourselves with wagging tongues and wagging fingers directed our way, by people whose opinions honestly don’t matter.

Oh, that we would have such faith and trust to be willing to leave our familiar surroundings and friends to go where God tells us to go. Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s scary. Even when we’d rather not.

What I’m Learning From Mary’s Yes to God

Here’s the part where I’m extremely thankful Mary said yes to God’s plan for her life. This is the part I find myself learning so much from Mary’s obedience. This is where I struggle right. now.

Mary was willing to let her son go.

To let him pursue the plan God had for His life, apart from whatever plan she held for her son.

Mary was willing to release her beloved son to the Father’s hand and to the Father’s plan.

As Mary stood at the foot of the cross and watched her son die in such horrible, horrible torture, do you think she understood what his death meant? Not just for all humans, but for her in particular?

Do you think she looked back to the day Gabriel told her she was highly favored above all women, and counted what her saying yes cost?

One thing is for certain. Each and every one of us can, and should, be thankful Mary said yes to God.

May each of you have a most excellent, blessed Christmas. Remembering, just like Mary, when God calls us into his plan, the best answer we could ever give is yes.

I wish you well.

Sandy Kirby Quandt

Sandy Kirby Quandt is a follower of Jesus with a passion for history and travel. Passions that often weave their way into her stories and articles. She writes articles, devotions, and stories for adult and children publications. She is a regular contributor to Guideposts devotional books, as well as a conference speaker. Sandy has won multiple awards for her writing, including several years in the Young Adult category of the Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition. However, her greatest honor came when she received the Right Stuff Award at Space Camp for Educators. Looking for words of encouragement or gluten-free recipes? Then check out her blog at https://sandykirbyquandt.com

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