I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.
– Luke 1:28
Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38
An angel appears to Mary and Joseph
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines trust as a belief that someone or something is reliable, good and honest. To trust someone means you have an assured reliance on the character and ability of that person. There is a sense of confidence that this person will do exactly what they say they will do.
The story of Christmas reflects this idea of trust in a profound way. Luke 1:26-38 tells the story of a young girl named Mary. The text describes Mary as being “highly favored” and when the angel appeared to Mary he said, “the Lord is with you.” Mary was most likely a teenager when the angel appeared to her and at the time she was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. Both Mary and Joseph were descendants of King David. We do not know much about Mary; however, based on the biblical text, we know that she was a woman of faith.
How do you think you would have felt if you were Mary or Joseph? An angel has appeared to you and described a future that seems impossible and scary. You know that if you are found pregnant before marriage, you could be put to death. Sounds a bit terrifying, would you say?
But what did Mary do? She said, “Yes!” This young, teenage girl gave an answer that reflected her unconditional faith towards God. It reflected complete trust that God requires of those He chooses. God did not have to ask Mary for her continued obedience. He knew she was committed to her faith and belief in Him. Mary’s life modeled this “yes” type of faith. Jesus’ future was unknown to Mary. She had no idea that she would someday be standing at the foot of the cross holding her beloved son. However, with an uncertain future, she trusted God.
I can trust God’s plan.
Do you have a “yes” kind of faith? Regardless of the situation or outcome, we can always trust in God’s plan. He is in control and He promises to guide us every step of the way.
1. What is an area in your life you need to surrender control to God?
2. How do you think you would have felt if you were Mary or Joseph in this situation? Fear? Doubt? Nervous? Joy? Excitement?
3. Describe a time when you placed your trust in God to help with a situation? What was the outcome?