The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.”
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you, therefore, also that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Gabriel told Mary that her cousin, Elizabeth also conceived on a son in her old age and that she who was called barren was six months pregnant.
Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:26-38).
The same angel who had appeared to Zacharias appeared to Mary. Both Zacharias and Mary were told that they would have would be blessed with sons but their responses were different. Zacharias doubted the word of Gabriel because of his wife Elizabeth and he were old. He doubted that God could do the impossible. Mary, on the other hand, asked a question after Gabriel announced that she would conceive and bring forth a Son. She was a virgin and wanted to find out how she would give birth without knowing a man. She didn’t ask the question because she had any doubt. She believed that it would happen but just didn’t understand how since she had not been intimate with a man. So, Gabriel explained what will happen and her response was accept God’s blessing.
Sometimes, we don’t understand how God will work something in our lives and there’s nothing wrong with asking questions. We are not lacking faith when we do that but we’re simply trying to understand. What may have also encouraged Mary to accept is hearing that her cousin, Elizabeth who was old and had been barren was pregnant. We are encouraged when we hear how God has worked or is working in other people’s lives. We think, if He can do that for them, what’s to prevent Him from doing what He wills in our lives? All we have to do is to trust Him and submit to His plan as Mary did.
Does God revealed His plan for you? What was your response? I pray that it was, “Let it be to me according to Your Word.”
Notes to Women 