The rug came flying out from under my feet as I heard the news. A numbness enveloped me, along with a darkness that felt terribly frightening. Have you ever experienced something like this? This was what I experienced five years ago. I was told I had breast cancer. I can tell you; nothing quite prepares you for it.
“Where can I hide? This can’t be happening. Are you kidding me?” I questioned as my thoughts swirled around. My life changed in an instant. What happened next is what I call the pivotal point of faith. I knew what to do and where to go. When life becomes numb, startling, and scary, it is good to know what to do. I had built up my faith by learning who God is in the Bible. I went straight to Him, diving headfirst into His Word. I found it to be my safe place.
I can hang on to every word that God speaks to me.
There was a young woman who had the rug thrown out from under her too. She was given quite a message, one that would change her life forever and eventually change the world. God was working behind the scenes to bring forth His redemptive plan. You can read about her in Luke 1:26-38.
Notice how Mary responded to the news in verse 34. She asked a good question and the angel of the Lord answered her. He prepared her heart for what was to come, and she was ready for such an assignment that God was bestowing upon her, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”38
What you see with Mary’s example of faith is that no matter what God allowed to come into her life, she was accepting of it. She knew God’s Word well and she believed in her heart that God is a good God even in trying circumstances like cancer or becoming pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
You learn from the following passage, Luke 1:39-45, that when you are accepting of the call that God places on you, great things happen! The Spirit is allowed to move freely so God can move mightily in the hearts of men.
A few days after Mary received the news of her pregnancy, she went to see her relative who is not barren anymore in her old age for God placed within Elizabeth’s womb a baby that will prepare people to see Jesus, see Luke 3:4-6. God was ushering forth the way of salvation for all mankind by using two women. They peacefully obliged to the call placed on them.
Notice how the Spirit moved within both women. At the sound of Mary’s voice, the baby within Elizabeth leaped for joy, see verses 41,44, and Elizabeth became filled with the Holy Spirit. God gave her clarity and understanding of what He is doing in their midst. In verses 42-43, Elizabeth exclaimed, “God has blessed you (Mary) above all women and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me?”
“You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said.”45
I have found, like Mary and Elizabeth did, that God’s Words come to fruition. You can believe with certainty that what He says is faithful and true. Psalm 33:4 says, “For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything He does.” I also have found that the Spirit leads you in clear understanding of the things that you ponder and question within your heart. John 14:26 says, “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
When a believer does his part in the faith journey, that is, walk in obedience to God’s voice, one gains a whole truckload of wisdom! Check out Proverbs 2 and learn the practical ways to help you know what to do and where to go when life becomes rather difficult. You can respond like Mary and Elizabeth when God allows any kind of circumstance to come upon you.
Take a minute and listen to “Spirit of the Living God” on Apple Music. Be encouraged by the faithful God who hears your every cry, whim, and prayer.
“Spirit of the living God, Spirit of the living God, we only want to hear Your voice. We’re hanging on every word. Spirit of the living God, Spirit of the living God, we want to know You more and more. We’re hanging on every word. ‘Cause when You speak, when You move, when You do what only You can do, it changes us. It changes what we see and what we seek. When You come in the room, when You do what only You can do, it changes us. It changes what we see and what we seek. You’re changing everything.”
Carol J German 