Great Joy Through Fear

Between Christmas festivities yesterday I was thinking about Mary. Poor Mary. Righteous Mary. Favored Mary. Brave Mary. Hoooowwwwww did she do it? How did she find the strength & courage & peace to carry out God’s calling on her life? Thank the Lord she did, though. Am I right!?

But she was afraid. Gabriel could sense it when he came to her to proclaim Jesus’ birth. He actually spoke the words “do not be afraid” to her because I’m sure the fear was written all over her face. How do you hold up to such impossible standards? How do you find this news “tidings of great joy” when you’re afraid (maybe terrified) & unsure of the weeks & years to come?

God.

I think we all saw that coming. She put her faith & trust in Him. Sounds easy enough. But we all know that sometimes that’s no easy task. As much as we WANT to hand over all our fears & doubts to Him, there’s a part of us that still holds on to them like the string of a balloon just in case there’s something we can do about them. But we’re told over & over again in the Bible “do not be afraid,” “take heart,” “have courage,” “do not be anxious,” “cast all your fears on Him.”

I want to be like Mary.

I want to go into this new year facing the seasons in front of me with great joy even when I might be fearful. I want to go into the unknown embodying her Spirit: the woman who found so much favor with God that He trusted her with His most precious gift to all humanity. I hope there’s a little bit of her in me– the parts of her that were able to charge forward in brave spirit & found joy through fear. Pray with me?

Lord, I ask this of You now: make me like Mary. I desperately want to answer the calling on my life, whatever that may be. I want to be fully devoted to whatever You have planned for my life. Allow me to embody the Spirit of this brave soul as I enter into 2018 with fears & hopes for what the new year might bring. Help me to find “tidings of great joy” in Your plan even when it seems frightening to me. You created me to live boldly through You, just like you did Mary. Amen. 

<3 Elaine

Additional Supplies:

American Crafts Thickers in Tinsel Accents | Paper Studio scallop circle punch | white card stock | IKEA wrapping paper