Fifteen years ago I sat in the balcony of a church for the first time because I had a deep, dark hurt and a reality bigger then me that kept me saying "How can this be?"My marriage was struggling and my parents where freshly divorced after 27 years of marriage. I felt lost, hurt and hopeless. My parents both figuring out their paths in life and my husband left to go down his self centered path. I remember so vividly that day that I anxiously made my way through the doors of this big white church. I sat pregnant at 34 weeks crying while asking God "How could this be?
My reality was so Big, I could not even wrap my mind around any good possibilities that could come out of this. I was troubled, confused and scared. Scared that I would be delivering my second baby with no man at my side. I know that is and was a reality for many women today.
This morning as I was preparing to write a devotion from the daily scheduled reading, I felt a nudge to write about the message I gave this past weekend at a woman's event called "Joy to the World"
My title was Merry Christmas vs Merry Reality.
How do we have Joy when our realities are so BIG and troublesome?
I would love for you to travel with me to LUKE 1:26-35, Please take a moment to read and wrap your heart around what was happening in that moment to Mary.
This story pointed me to a very important truth for this Christmas and I want to share with all my family and friends. I hope it blesses you and then encourages you to be a GABRIEL angel in someones life this season.
When Mary heard the news from the angel that she was Highly favored and blessed among women, she was troubled from the start with the angels greeting. The angel Gabriel continued saying to Mary "Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus!
Mary now even more troubled and confused with this BIG reality exclaimed..
"HOW CAN THIS BE, SINCE I HAVE NOT BEEN WITH A MAN?"
The angel then answered her with something so POWERFUL that I would love for you to grasp this Christmas.
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the highest will overshadow you."
Mary's response is key....
Mary took her eyes off the reality and placed her life with Trust in God. She just knew with Gabriel's encouragement that God was getting ready to BIRTH A POSSIBILITY IN HER REALITY!
Mary also did not try to ESCAPE her reality. She stood firm and let nothing move her. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
She allowed God to work through her reality to bring true JOY to the world. Her Reality became anther's possibility.
Did you ever consider that your trouble will birth a possibility in anther's life? God will use you as He overshadows you and comforts you.
God cares about your "HOW CAN THIS BE?"
I know the moment I asked God to Come into my heart, He began to show me the path of life and in His presence I found FULLNESS OF JOY (Psalm 16:11)
Do not allow your reality to steal the joy from your life. God can overshadow your "How can this be?"
The loss of a loved one, a broken marriage, sickness, loss of home and job, financial struggles, ministry problems, lost dreams, sinful consequences. All these realities the MOST HIGH can take over.
My friend, I want to be your Gabriel today and encourage you with these words..."Do not be afraid, for with God nothing will be impossible." You my friend are HIGHLY FAVORED!
I will be posting the speaking video from the conference this week. If you have a friend or family member dealing with a big reality this Christmas maybe you can use this tool to bless and settle their troubled hearts.
To all my Michigan friends, most of us have a SNOW DAY! Enjoy!
Joy to the world,
