Some of us might be in a long difficult winter season of our lives that seems to last forever. During this season we hear inescapable Christmas music and carols everywhere we go, on TV, radio, and malls. Some of us don’t feel like singing along. Most of us sing when things are going great, but what if they’re not, can we still sing?
For Israel it had been in a very long season of winter. It had been 400 years since God had spoken to them by the prophet Malachi, but God’s plan of redemption was not over. They were waiting for their Messiah. As prophesied by Isaiah God sent His only Son into their world to bring light and hope into their season of discontent.
The singing of songs and hymns goes way back to the Old Testament. Only Luke’s gospel includes four songs that have been sung for centuries by real people in real times of disappointment just like you and I. Luke’s four songs were sung by the quiet ones of Israel who were its’ the real strength. People like Mary, Zechariah and Elizabeth and Simeon who kept the hope of Israel alive.
In those days the pheasant girl Mary had an amazing miraculous visitation from the angel Gabriel declaring she will give birth to the Son of God conceived by the Holy Spirit. While that was extremely good news for Israel, Mary was understandably “greatly troubled” with the announcement. That’s putting it mildly. It was more like completely overwhelmed. But also notice that Mary does not say, I just can’t accept it, it will be too difficult for me to explain.
Imagine Mary thinking, “My parents are going to kill me when I tell them I’m pregnant.” Can you imagine the response of Mary’s parents when they asked her who was the father and she told them the Holy Spirit? ”What, excuse me, come again, repeat that?” When the news hits her home town it will get even more painful for Mary.
Mary will endure harsh criticism, accusations, slurs, and incessant whispering from her friends and neighbors. Yet, Mary breaks into a celebrative song after Gabriel’s announcement.
My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Luke 1:46-47
Notice that Mary celebrates before the fulfillment of God’s promise. Mary could sing in the midst of her winter season because she knew that God had the desire and the power (Is.40:25-26; Col.1:16-17) to see her through her season and she understood his amazing grace.
In the midst of your winter of discontent who or what is your resource? Perhaps you think that God is unaware or detached from your life story? In the midst of deep discouragement the prophet Isaiah comforted Israel with these words:
Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:27-29
Before Mary breaks into her song she asked Gabriel, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” Notice it wasn’t that she doubted what the angel Gabriel said, but ‘how’ could this be that you would choose me? Gabriel told her, “For nothing is impossible with God.” What was Mary’s response? “May it be as you have said?”
Notice it wasn’t that she doubted what the angel Gabe said, but ‘how’ could this be? Can you hear Mary’s absolute surrender to the will of God? Whatever you say Lord, whatever you desire that’s what I want. She let go of that which she could not control. That’s hard isn’t it?
Maybe I think I’ve got to straighten things out on my own, especially if I’ve messed things up? I’m going to get myself out of this somehow. I’ll figure it out on my own. I think I have control. Maybe I’m hesitant to come to God because I’m not sure if He cares or can really do anything about my situation? Yet, He wants us to come to Him.
God wants us be honest with who we are and who He is. That we would realize that we are dependent upon His grace and ability to do for us what we cannot do on our own.
“God designed us to run on Him! He is the fuel our spirits are designed to burn.”
John Eldredge
Mary freely admitted she needed God’s power and grace. She could say, “I need you God.” She could sing in the midst of her winter.
What about you? Can you sing like Mary when you’re frozen in your winter of discontent? It is possible when you deeply engage with God’s love, power and grace and humbly admit that you really need Him. Then maybe you can say along with Mary, “how could it be that you would choose me, a nobody from a nowhere town, but, may it be as you have said.”
The story of Christmas is enough. He doesn’t need to give us anything else for Christmas. He is enough! Is He enough for you?
Merry Christmas,
Mark
