One of the most familiar moments in the Christmas story is also one of the most challenging. An angel appears to Mary and tells her that God is about to do something incredible through her life. She will give birth to Jesus, the Son of God.
Mary certainly had questions. She could not have understood everything that was ahead. Saying yes to God would affect her plans, her relationships, her reputation, and the future she probably imagined for herself. Yet after hearing what God was asking of her, Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).
In other words, Mary gave God her yes.
We often want God to give us all the details before we decide whether we will trust Him. We want to know how things will work out, what it will cost, how long it will take, and whether we will be comfortable along the way. But faith rarely comes with all the answers.
Faith says, “God, I trust You enough to obey You even when I cannot see everything ahead.”
That kind of yes can be difficult because our lives are already full. We have plans, schedules, responsibilities, expectations, and ideas about how life is supposed to go. Then God interrupts those plans with an invitation to follow Him.
Making room for God often begins by loosening our grip on our own plans.
Maybe your yes is forgiving someone you would rather avoid. Maybe God is asking you to serve, give, encourage someone, have a difficult conversation, or take a step you have been postponing. Your yes might mean changing a priority, surrendering something you have been holding tightly, or trusting God in an area where you desperately want to remain in control.
Whatever it is, remember that saying yes to God is not primarily about having confidence in yourself. It is about having confidence in Him. Mary could say yes because the God asking for her obedience was trustworthy. The same is true for us. We do not know everything God knows. We cannot see everything God sees. But we can know His character. He is good. He is faithful. He is present. And He can be trusted with the parts of our lives we cannot predict or control.
As Christmas approaches, consider a simple question:
Where might God be asking for my yes?
Do not rush past that question. Pray about it. Pay attention to what God has already shown you through His Word. Consider the step of obedience you know you need to take.
You do not have to understand the entire journey to take the next faithful step.
This Christmas, make room for God by opening your hands, surrendering your plans, and trusting Him with what comes next.
Sometimes the biggest things God does in our lives begin with one simple response:
Yes, Lord. All things are possible with you.
Mary certainly had questions. She could not have understood everything that was ahead. Saying yes to God would affect her plans, her relationships, her reputation, and the future she probably imagined for herself. Yet after hearing what God was asking of her, Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).
In other words, Mary gave God her yes.
We often want God to give us all the details before we decide whether we will trust Him. We want to know how things will work out, what it will cost, how long it will take, and whether we will be comfortable along the way. But faith rarely comes with all the answers.
Faith says, “God, I trust You enough to obey You even when I cannot see everything ahead.”
That kind of yes can be difficult because our lives are already full. We have plans, schedules, responsibilities, expectations, and ideas about how life is supposed to go. Then God interrupts those plans with an invitation to follow Him.
Making room for God often begins by loosening our grip on our own plans.
Maybe your yes is forgiving someone you would rather avoid. Maybe God is asking you to serve, give, encourage someone, have a difficult conversation, or take a step you have been postponing. Your yes might mean changing a priority, surrendering something you have been holding tightly, or trusting God in an area where you desperately want to remain in control.
Whatever it is, remember that saying yes to God is not primarily about having confidence in yourself. It is about having confidence in Him. Mary could say yes because the God asking for her obedience was trustworthy. The same is true for us. We do not know everything God knows. We cannot see everything God sees. But we can know His character. He is good. He is faithful. He is present. And He can be trusted with the parts of our lives we cannot predict or control.
As Christmas approaches, consider a simple question:
Where might God be asking for my yes?
Do not rush past that question. Pray about it. Pay attention to what God has already shown you through His Word. Consider the step of obedience you know you need to take.
You do not have to understand the entire journey to take the next faithful step.
This Christmas, make room for God by opening your hands, surrendering your plans, and trusting Him with what comes next.
Sometimes the biggest things God does in our lives begin with one simple response:
Yes, Lord. All things are possible with you.
Posted in Make Room