It was a lot for a teenage girl to take in. That she would be the one God chose to be the mother of the Messiah would be a bit like winning the lottery. That she would be able to have a child without having relations with a man was simply impossible. But that the child she would bear would be the Son of God? We still can’t understand the mystery of the incarnation, and we’ve had 2000 years to think about it.

But all this wasn’t just hard for Mary to believe. It would be even harder for her to participate in God’s plan. If she were to become pregnant in such a miraculous way, who would believe her? Her father could have thrown her out of the house. Her fiancé Joseph could have had her stoned as an adulteress (engagements were much more serious affairs back then). And at the very least, she would have to endure the scorn and the whispers of her neighbors for the rest of her life. Her reputation would be ruined.

And yet she responded in verse 38, not in fear but in faith. “Behold the handmaid, the bondslave of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” She trusted God even though trusting Him might mean losing everything she had, and perhaps even life itself. She trusted God with all she was and all she had – and great blessings came not only to her but to the whole world.

How is God calling you to trust Him today? What might happen if you laid down your comfortable expectations and followed God in radical faith? Why don’t we give it a try and see what happens? For after all, with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 1:26-38 (KJV)

26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.