The Advent season makes me think of a story of Faith, and gets me to reflect with where my faith really is.

Has God ever tried to tell you something that you felt did not make sense?  Tried to push your limit? Maybe he opened a door for you, but you didn’t think you were capable of the responsibilities, or maybe you thought it wasn’t a good fit.

Do we not believe God can help us make things happen?  Maybe it is our experience and knowledge that helps us make decisions for what we think is best for us?  If it is, we are not listening and being obedient to Him. We are relying on our own volition and not trusting in God’s will.

Mary was in this situation and she passed the test.  She was greeted by the Angel Gabriel and told that she will conceive the Christ child!  That he will be great! He will be the Son of God!  Mary, filled with excitement responded with; How can this be?  How is this possible?  How will I do it?  She asked these questions with optimism in her voice.  Mary, knowing she is a virgin, does not assume it cannot be done.  She has faith in asking ‘ How will this be?’ and not ‘How can I be sure?’  She wanted to know more about the Lord and His will for her, she was willing to trust in him.  (Luke 1:34)

Zechariah, Mary’s uncle, replies in another way.  Gabriel appears to him and says his wife will have a baby and his name will be John.  Zechariah replies, ‘How can I be sure of this?’ At first, Zechariah was unwilling to trust in God, he knew his wife was old and did not feel it possible she would be able to bear a child.  (Luke 1:18)

God is capable of miracles, and when you want to accomplish the things that God wants of you, things seem to go a lot smoother.  Zechariah was an older man, a wise priest.  He assumed he knew enough about God that God could not let him have another child.  God had to prove it to him.  Mary was a child, a teenager.  Children generally are obedient; they listen when they are told to do something, and trust the adult who is giving the direction.  Adults think they can fly solo, but we are all children of God.  In Galatians 3, it says in Christ we are all children of God through faith.

Our faith in following God will prove who we are and what we do.  We are to be obedient to Him, to hold his hand to cross the street, if you will.  Trust in him that he has the best plans for us.

Are we asking the right questions? I encourage you to pray when doors open up in front of you.  Be prepared to ‘come and see.’  And right now, make sure you are ready for this season.  The Christ child is arriving!