Even Mary Had to Surrender.

Even when Mary learned she would be the mother of the Savior, she still considered herself a “lowly handmaid.” She surrendered to God’s will. [Partners in Faith, May 2022]

When I think of Mary I always think of her in a Heavenly state, full of grace, void of sin. I never view her as someone that would give pause at the thought of surrender. Instead I’ve assumed her state of grace afforded her the gift of ease, so that when Jesus asked her to do something it was just effortless, without struggle, without humanity even. The reality is that Mary, although full of grace, was fully human so why would she not struggle with surrender, even to God?

God’s will is often not easy to follow if even Mary had to cease resistance to God’s will. What I once thought was a choice of ease has been illuminated to me in a brand new way. I recognize now how much more difficult Mary’s choice would have been. The weight she must have felt as she said YES to God’s great and difficult plans, and the questions she must have had. Oh my goodness, the questions she must have had!

Let me dumb this down for a quick second. Follow me in a modern-day comparison conversation. It could have gone something quite like this:

God: Hello Mary, this is God. I’m going to come into the world in human form as Jesus Christ. In order to do this, I’d like you to bear Jesus (aka me) as a child in your womb. You will become the mother to Jesus (aka me). I’ve handpicked you. Is this ok with you? Will you say yes?

Mary: Wait, what? Me? How? When? Why? Who is the father? Where will we live? How could I possibly be equipped to care for your Son, the Savior of the world?

God may or may not have given her some of the answers to her many questions, but I don’t think I have to go out on a limb to assume that He didn’t give her all of the answers. Still, Mary surrendered and let go of her resistance. She said Yes regardless of her inability to see the future. She just trusted that God had all the details worked out and gave Him her whole life, then watched Him go to work as she continued to say Yes and live Yes daily.

Guess what? God gave her whole life right back to her as the greatest gift. She became the vessel, the holy and loving mother to Jesus Christ, our Savior. Because she said yes, she gained a renewed love, awe, and adoration from her husband, Joseph. Because she said yes, she gave a holy birth to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because she said yes, she had a front row view (and I have to guess some divine insight) to the miracle that is Jesus. Because she said yes, she got to raise the Son of God in quiet intimacy for 30 years with her husband, Joseph. Because she said yes, she got to witness first-hand the limitless miracles of a loving God who knows no bounds.

Mary surrendered and said Yes, and her life was filled with ultimate and divine purpose.

What about you? What is God asking of you? Will you say yes, and have a front-row seat to the miracles He desires to employ, or will you say no and retreat to a false sense of safety?

God desires your yes and He desires you – ALL of you!