The Impossible Gift

"For with God nothing will be impossible." Luke 1:37 (NASV)

The year of planning a wedding is busy and full of emotion, especially for the bride. She shops for the perfect dress that's "just her," the proper flowers to adorn the wedding party, the church and reception hall, chooses the gals who will attend her, helps decide who will be on the guest list and so much more. And, if any of this goes awry...the tears do fly.

For Mary, the betrothed of Joseph, her perfect wedding plans certainly went awry. Her wedding plans were unexpectedly interrupted by the angel Gabriel. While wondering why Gabriel called her favored by God, she was given a most impossible mission.

"Pregnant? I'm to become pregnant? With God's son? But how? I'm not even married?" she asked.

Yet, in the midst of this incredibly, unbelievable conversation, scripture does not depict Mary in any frenzy of an emotional breakdown. Instead, Mary pondered and humbly accepted God's word to be truth and that which was impossible He would make possible.

I'm sure there's more to the story than what is told in the lines of Scripture. Culturally, Mary was in danger of being stoned for being pregnant outside of marriage. Emotionally, she and Joseph were on the outs and her perfect wedding was now a nightmare. She fled to the hills, literally, to stay with her cousin Elizabeth, who was also carrying a miracle child. We don't know if her parents sent her there for her safety or if she fled on her own. But, what we do know is that she found comfort and confirmation of all Gabriel had spoken was true. She found that what was impossible, God was making possible.

We all face impossible situations in our lives, sometimes more than once. Our perfect plans are interrupted and go awry. We head off down the road of emotional frenzies and wonder how we'll ever see the end of it. We think the solution will never come or change is just impossible. But, God is always faithful to those who put their trust in Him.

His plans for us may not look like the perfect gift wrapped present dolled up with a flashy red bow but they will always be perfect and always made possible. The question is, will we be humble enough to receive from Him? Will we be like Mary who said, "I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled." (Luke 1:38)