4 Enduring Lessons from Mary's Incredible Faith
- Heather Adams Contributing Writer
- Updated Feb 16, 2024
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Mary, like other women of her time, lived in hope that God’s promise of a Messiah would come to pass soon. What she never would have guessed, though, is that she would be the one God chose to help bring this miracle to pass. Up until then, she had lived an ordinary life. Probably the most exciting thing that had happened to her so far was becoming engaged to a local carpenter named Joseph.
But then came the day of the angel's visit. The news Mary heard must have both thrilled and frightened her – she was set apart to become the mother of the Messiah. Not only would she give birth to Him, Mary would have the privilege to raise this child, and to share life with Him. Later would come the heartache of watching Him suffer and die, and the joy of knowing He had risen as the Savior of the world.
Chapter 1 of the Book of Luke provides details of the birth of Jesus, including the beautiful passage in verses 46-55 called the Magnificat. Reading these certainly reminds us of the important part Mary played in the Nativity story. But with a closer look, we can find lessons that apply to us every day.
1. We Can Be Used by God
“...for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant...has lifted up the humble” (Luke 1:48, 52).
Throughout history, God has chosen people who by outward appearances didn’t seem to offer much, but were willing to follow His lead. He has equipped and encouraged them to do mighty things for His kingdom, knowing they will give Him the glory of the results.
Mary knew this truth about her Lord. She was also self-aware, understanding her place compared to others with more money or position. Yet, she had been satisfied with her life. Her knowledge of God’s goodness had brought a contentment with what she had. Such a worshipful heart was one reason God had picked her among all the women of that time.
Being chosen didn’t take away her basic sense of humility. When called “favored” by the angel and “blessed among women” by her cousin Elizabeth, Mary’s natural response was to lift up praise to God from a place of gratitude.
God is still looking for people with a sense of humility about themselves and an awe of Him. Those are the ones He uses. So if we want to be set apart for Him, our first priority is to make sure He is the object of our worship. When God calls us, we must boast in Christ and not ourselves.
2. We Can Trust God in All Things
“’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her” (Luke 1:38).
Though Mary was not expecting this new twist in her life, she adapted. When faced with miracles, Mary chose to believe in them. Here are just a few of those events in Luke’s account beyond the pregnancy itself:
- The visit by the angel Gabriel (1:26)
- Her cousin Elizabeth being pregnant in old age (1:36-37)
- The shepherds coming to worship her baby (2:16)
- Prophesying by Simeon and Anna in the temple court (2:29-38)
From the moment she heard about being the mother of the Messiah, her heart and mind were fixed on what God was doing, even when she didn’t understand. If we want to be able to trust God as completely as Mary did, two steps can help us grow in this area:
1. Knowing God through His Word
Mary had learned many of God’s Promises, as she declares in Luke 1:54-55,
“He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Reading Scripture and learning more about what God has done and plans to do will increase our trust that He has good plans for us, too.
2. Knowing God through His Works
Mary took in all that was done and said during this amazing time. Luke 2:19 says that she “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Being alert to how God is working in and around us and being thoughtful about what we witness will lead us to trust that He will be active in our lives as well.
3. We Can Come to God with Questions
“’How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’” (Luke 1:34).
A visit from an angel could naturally leave anyone feeling startled and scared, and Mary was no exception. It says in Luke that Mary was “greatly troubled” at the angel Gabriel’s words. So how did she get from this place of fear to a place of acceptance? Well, this passage also says that Mary “wondered” at the greeting Gabriel gave her.
According to the dictionary, wondering can mean having a “feeling of surprise mingled with admiration,” or a “great desire to know something.” Both of these seem to join together here, leading Mary to ask her question of Gabriel. Notice some aspects about her question that reflect a worshipful, instead of a doubting, heart:
- She paid close attention to what Gabriel told her, listening thoughtfully.
- She asked with an attitude of curiosity and an open mind.
- Rather than trying to dismiss the news, she truly wanted to know more.
- She didn’t ask for a sign to prove the truth of the message.
It can be comforting to know that God doesn't mind his people asking Him questions. We are free to seek more information about Him, His Word and his Ways. The key is to make sure that our motivation and approach are right. Are we looking for clarity or confirmation? Do we want to better understand what God is doing? Will we use what we learn for good purposes?
4. We Can Choose to Worship God Regardless of Our Circumstances
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” (Luke 1:46-47).
After the angel departed, Mary was left in a very challenging situation, to say the least. She was a young, unmarried and pregnant woman. The man she was betrothed to was considering divorcing her and the future was uncertain. Yet, in the midst of all this, she decided to continue serving and glorifying her Lord. In turn, He gave her the strength to handle difficult circumstances with grace.
The Magnificat is full of testimonies Mary declares about God’s blessings for herself and others that came before:
- “... the Mighty One has done great things for me…” (1:49)
- “His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.” (1:50)
- “He has filled the hungry with good things…” (1:53)
- “He has helped his servant Israel…” (1:54)
God is always pleased when we refuse to let trials and problems keep us from worship, because that shows our eyes are fixed on Him. As we make the choice to lift him up during difficult times, He blesses us with comfort, peace and even a measure of joy.
Mary's cousin Elizabeth put it well when she exclaimed, “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45). Life as she'd known it was disrupted and forever changed. But Mary was able to not only accept God’s plan, but to be obedient to do her part and to glorify Him. By studying Mary’s strong worship life and following her example, we’ll experience a more vibrant faith walk in our own lives.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Studio-Annika
Heather Adams is an author, speaker, and singer living in Connecticut. Heather’s passion is to equip and encourage believers to seek more of God’s truth and to experience more of His joy each day. Her book, “Bow Down: The Heart of a True Worshipper” is a practical, 30-day devotional about worship. Worship Walk Ministries, her blog, offers weekly Scripture passages and insights to ponder. Heather shares her home with her family, an English setter named Marcie and Galaxy, the most curious cat she’s ever met. You can connect with her on her website: heatheradamsworshipwalk.com
