Our lives are a puzzle, and down here, we only see “imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror”. Faith is trusting that the pieces we cannot fit together now will one day form a beautiful, complete picture.
The life of Mary was filled with “once off” circumstances we can never imitate. A virgin birth, angelic visitations, shepherds and Magi at her doorstep, and the profound mystery of raising a child who would never sin—these events set her apart. It’s easy to place her on a pedestal, seeing her as inaccessible. Yet, the core question her story poses is, “How does it relate to us?”. The answer lies not in her unique circumstances, but in her deeply human and relatable faith as she navigated a life of unimaginable divine purpose. Her journey is a profound example of real, unwavering trust in the face of the unknown.
At the very heart of her story is a simple, yet world-changing “yes.” The angel Gabriel appeared to a girl of perhaps only thirteen or fourteen with a message that defied all logic. She was betrothed, a legally binding arrangement, meaning a pregnancy outside of her union with Joseph would be considered adultery—a crime punishable by stoning. She was “greatly troubled” and afraid, yet her response was immediate and resolute: “I am the Lord’s servant… May your word to me be fulfilled”. This was not a blind leap but an act of profound trust in the character of God, a choice to embrace His disruptive plan despite the immense personal risk and the certainty of scandal.
Her journey immediately shows us that God does not leave us alone in our obedience. God’s kindness: “God knew Mary’s going to need a friend now”. Because who would believe her story? So the angel pointed her to her relative, Elizabeth. The moment Mary walked in the door, Elizabeth shouted in confirmation, “How privileged I am that the mother of my Lord has come to visit me!”. In that moment, God provided the comfort, confirmation, and community she desperately needed. This pattern of provision continued, as the Magi’s gifts of gold would later fund her family’s flight to Egypt, fulfilling scripture and keeping her son safe.
However, faith does not exempt us from confusion or pain. Mary had to learn that while she was Jesus’ mother, she also had to become his disciple, a “big transition to make”. Imagine the panic of losing the twelve-year-old Son of God for three days, only to find Him in the temple. Her worried cry, “Didn’t you know we were worried about you?” was met with his perplexing response about being in his “Father’s business.” The scripture says she “did not understand,” but she “treasured everything in her heart”. This treasuring of mysteries would culminate in the ultimate pain, a pain foretold thirty-three years earlier when Simeon prophesied that “a sword would pierce her soul”. This prophecy became her reality as she stood at the cross, watching her son become a “bloody pulp, unrecognizable”.
This is where her story intersects most powerfully with our own: the reality of suffering. It is often “totally inexplicable” and not something we deserve. When we suffer, it is not because “God is mad at you”. Rather, God uses it.
“When he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold”.
Job 23:10
Suffering has a purifying effect. In a stunning paradox, the Bible says that even Jesus, who was perfect, “learned obedience through the things that he suffered”. If He did, how much more do we? Our lives are a puzzle, and down here, we only see “imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror”. Faith is trusting that the pieces we cannot fit together now will one day form a beautiful, complete picture.
Ultimately, Mary is not a model we are called to imitate in detail, but an “example of a real person who trusted God as an individual”. The challenge is to ask, “What can I learn from Mary about living in faith in my real world?”. If she were here, she would tell us: “You can trust Him, even though life doesn’t turn out as expected. He is good and faithful, and He keeps His promises”. He knows your name, He holds you in His hands, and He will bring you safely home.
Reflect:
- Mary said “yes” to God despite knowing the potential consequences. When have you felt God asking you to do something that felt frightening or uncertain? What can you learn from Mary’s immediate trust?
- God provided Mary with a supportive friend and confirmation in Elizabeth just when she needed it. Who has God placed in your life to encourage and support your faith during a difficult season? Take a moment to thank God for them.
- Mary experienced the deep pain of watching her son suffer, a pain foretold as a “sword” piercing her soul. Reflect on a time of suffering in your own life. How does the idea that suffering can have a “purifying effect” change your perspective on that experience?
- The sermon uses the analogy of life being a puzzle where we only see some pieces now. What parts of your life feel like confusing “puzzle pieces” right now? How can you practice trusting that “one day all those puzzle pieces are going to be filled in”?
- The final challenge is not to ask “How can I be like Mary?” but “What can I learn from Mary about living in faith in my real world?”. What is one practical lesson from her trust in God that you can apply to your own unique life this week?
What personal next step can you take?
Closing Prayer
Father, we thank you for the example of Mary—for her courage, her trust, and her faithfulness in a life that did not turn out as she might have expected. Help us to trust you as she did.
Now unto You, who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of Your glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
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