3 Things Mary Shows Us About our Father, God

Imagine Mary

A small-town rural girl. A virgin, likely 13 or 14. Engaged, betrothed, to an older man as was the custom in that day. And in that day, being betrothed was as good as being married.

Most likely, her family was poor and common, and Mary herself would not be considered anyone special or destined for fame. She seemed ordinary.

And yet God sent his messenger Gabriel to proclaim to her that she would…

You know the rest of the story.

But sometimes, the familiarity of a story can prevent us from seeing new things that God might want to reveal to us.

As I’ve considered Mary this Advent, I have discovered three things she reveals to me about God our Father.

1. God intervenes in our lives in surprising ways.

Mary was just having a normal day. Perhaps making bread or sewing or tending to siblings. She loved God. However, she was not a religious leader, prophet, or teacher. She was just “regular” — a girl looking forward to marriage and a family. But God had a different, better plan. He intervened and upset all her plans. She was shocked, afraid, her future now in jeopardy. Whew.

Me: My parents were people with a strong faith, so our family went to church, It was not negotiable. I thought it was boring and often fell asleep during the service. I would never have imagined wanting to go to church. I was not in the “cool crowd.” I didn’t think too much about marriage and family. Instead, I wanted to go to law school and run for congress or even vice president. In those days, women were not encouraged to do this.What happened? God intervened. I married a man in seminary. We’ve served in churches for over fifty years, have five children, twenty-one grandchildren, and one “great.” God has a sense of humor.I’ve discovered that it’s helpful to look back over my life and recognize times when God has intervened. A breakup with a boy, a different job, an unexpected move. Good things and very hard things. Interventions that were mostly subtle. Given time and perspective, I see my heavenly Father’s good hand leading each one. He was there -all the time.

You: Perhaps, like Mary, you have recently experienced the unexpected. Like her, you may be fearful, perplexed, and lack understanding. The big picture is unclear. But it is clear to God. Rest in this and wait. When Gabriel appeared to Mary, he said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28)When God intervenes in our lives, it can be scary, hard, or a relief. But the most important thought to hold onto is that He is a “with me Father.”

2. God encourages us as we need it.

Mary must have been in shock when Gabriel left her. Likely, she even wondered if she had heard right. “Am I imagining things? Can this be real?”God knew she needed encouragement and affirmation.So, He told her about her cousin Elizabeth and sent her to visit her. And yet, in those long days of travel (9 or 10 days) I envision her doubts bubbled to the surface over and over again. God knew she needed encouragement again, so He used Elizabeth to affirm the baby in her womb and announce that she, little Mary, was the mother of the Lord. In future scenes, we see His encouragement again through the shepherds, Joseph, Simeon, Anna, and others.

Me: Over and over in my own life, I question what is going on. Am I making a mess of things? Am I on the right track? What should I do? I don’t understand…It helps me to fall back on the promises in Psalm 139. He knows me. Even better than I know myself. And He loves me totally and completely forever and ever. His is a perfect love with no “buts.”Being in the scriptures is the place where I am most encouraged. The older I get, the more desperate I am for time in His word, and the more I love what He reveals to me through it.When I don’t understand, I am encouraged by the promise that “His understanding has no limit.” (Psalm 147:5)

You: Perhaps, like Mary, you need some encouragement today. Or some affirmation that you are making the best decision. Or even a reminder that He knows you and understands you. He is a good Father, and no matter what is happening in your world, He is still in control. You can call on Him today for encouragement.“Call unto me, and I will show you great and mighty things that you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

3. God comforts us in our hard times.

Years later, Mary was to share a horrible grief with our heavenly Father. The two of them are the only ones to bear such a grief. At this season in her life, she had no idea what was to come. She was happy with her cousin Elizabeth. There would be hints in the future.Yet she and Father God were the only ones to be bound together in the loss of their son. He sent his son to earth to be born in a manger, to be celebrated but soon to be hated, rejected, stoned, ridiculed, and crucified for our sins. He chose to do this out of His love for you and me. But Jesus was Mary’s son too, Fathered by the Holy Spirit, one with the Father.A most profound, personal grief that only these two can really share. A most sacred fellowship.

Me: This is a new thought for me this Advent. I am still processing it. But in a strange way it takes to a deeper level God’s desire to comfort in hard times. God and Mary have experienced the worst of the worst. His suffering gives power to his comforting.Paul explains this in 2 Corinthians 3-7. Theirs was a journey from the cradle to the cross.

You: Perhaps you have had a serious setback this year, been betrayed, lost a loved one, or given a serious diagnosis. You may think, No one knows how hard this (whatever the “this” is) is. It’s true. No one person can completely feel your agony. But your Father in heaven does. He gets the pain because He himself, along with Mary, have experienced severe pain too. He longs to gather you in his arms and comfort you. In fact, at this very moment, He is holding your hand, and He will not let go. (Psalm 73:23) And underneath you are His everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27)

As I’ve considered Mary, I’ve been reminded of these things:

I’m reminded that what is happening in my life is a tiny piece of a much bigger thing God is doing in His world. It’s just one piece of a very big puzzle. It’s easy for me to lose perspective.

The box top of a 2000 piece jigsaw puzzle shows what the finished puzzle is to look like. Without this picture we would not see what the artist intended. God has the beautiful final picture in mind.

I am reminded that God is good. A friend of mine with a very sad life has a favorite verse:

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8)

Mary’s was a journey from the cradle to the cross. But through it all, God was with her. Just as He is with each of us. He has promised that He will never ever, ever, ever leave us.

Christmas: Immanuel. God with us. (Hebrews 13:5)

I’ve been re-reading The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs. A humorous, profound, portrayal of three women intimately involved in the Christmas story which takes us into Epiphany. Grab a copy as you enter this new year.

Read about Christmas for Empty Nesters