“Blessed is she who believes the Lord would fulfill His promises to her.” (Luke 1:45 NIV)
Mind reeling from the angel’s proclamation, Mary quickly packed her things. Her future would not be what she had planned at all. Her imagination could not even fathom this new world. She needed to share this with someone, someone trusted. She desperately needed help processing. She needed Aunt Elizabeth.
Her wise aunt would know what to do. Aunt Elizabeth would know how to console her with truth, how to offer the words of encouragement she dramatically needed to hear.
She’d barely arrived when Aunt Elizabeth’s announcement reached past her ears into her soul, “She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled. ” (Luke 1:45 HCSB)
Her faith blessed her.
Her hope for, the proof of what is not seen, believe system blessed her.
Her belief that He would always, faithfully fulfill His promises, blessed her.
Her confidence in God, when the world pointed out she had no tangible evidence, blessed her.
Although she must have felt sick and tired from the pregnancy, the journey and the dramatic scandal she left at home, Mary didn’t collapse at Elizabeth’s feet in a tearful ‘why me? I did everything right’ scenario.
Instead, she put aside her expectations for the future, and joyfully embraced the divine alterations set before her.
She burst into praise of the Heavenly Father, (in fact, most Bibles label Luke 1:46-55 ‘Mary’s Song’!)
Mary was blessed for belief in God. She was blessed for her faith in His word. And, she was blessed by trusting Him in His plan for her future, and relinquishing her dreams.
We too will be blessed by believing in God, putting faith in His word, and relinquishing future plans to Him.
The question is, will I choose to so graciously give Him the reins my life, my future, my heart?
When I’m sick and tired of the journey, of the circumstances, will I still declare the greatness of the Lord, proclaiming music to His ears?
Mary’s faith and obedience blessed her indeed! How has your faith or the faith of someone you know, been a blessing?