Three Attitudes for Simple Wisdom We Learn from Mary
We are now living “the most wonderful time of the year!” The Christmas season really is a time when we experience joy, excitement, anticipation, fun, and delight. We also endure budget woes, family tension, unmet expectations, and frustration from waiting in yet another line. In addition, we could be dealing with an illness, loss of a job, grief, or depression.
How do we manage to experience joy regardless of any day-to-day pressures?
God provides simple wisdom through the person and story of Mary.
Mary’s Story
We encounter Mary in Luke 1:26-56. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and grants her an incredible honor. He informs her she has been chosen to give birth to the Son of God. She is awarded an overwhelming and unprecedented task.
When we read this passage of scripture, I think we rush the events. It seems as if Mary and Gabriel’s exchange happens in a five-minute time slot. Consequently, we marvel at Mary’s display of amazing faith because she quickly accepts God’s purpose for her.
Mary’s Three Attitudes
Woven in between the lines of the story, Mary chooses three attitudes. I believe we can learn from Mary’s story enabling us to live our lives with greater purpose and joy. Mary decides first to release, then rely, and finally to rejoice.
An Attitude of Release
Mary is a young girl pledged to be married to Joseph. She is living her betrothal year and is looking forward to a life with Joseph. I imagine she created a picture in her mind of what her life as the wife of a carpenter would look like. She most likely has dreamed of the children they will have, and what kind of mother she will be. There was no Better Homes and Gardens magazine nor Pinterest to help her design her home, but she’s been creating an image in her head, nevertheless.
When Gabriel tells Mary of God’s plan, she must release her image of that ideal life. In addition, since God’s plan causes her to be pregnant before the betrothal period ends, she must let of go of living within the acceptable social norms. Furthermore, Mary must set aside the time of just being with Joseph before a family comes along, and she has to release her good girl image.
Releasing is a Process
Mary is definitely caught off guard. Most versions of the Bible describe her as deeply or greatly troubled by the appearance of an angel and his declaration she is highly favored (Luke 1:28-29). The New Living Translation says she is confused and disturbed. The Amplified states, “she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was.”
I’m convinced Mary was as confused and troubled by the rest of Gabriel’s message as she was over his greeting. The Amplified version’s continuous present tense tells me Mary was mulling everything over and over in her mind. She was moving words and ideas forward and backward, upside down and inside out to grasp what this spectacular being was telling her.
Ask Questions
In spite of all this, Mary does choose to release what she thought life would be like. She wisely asks a question, seeking to gain her footing in this new journey. She listened to Gabriel, God’s voice to her, and she accepted what He said as truth. She chose to believe all he told her even though she didn’t understand everything.
Releasing is no different for us. For example, we can easily be caught off guard by what life throws at us. Still, we must choose to let go of the idealized pictures we hold and the dreams we’ve mentally created. Our emotions may range from confused to troubled to anger to fear.
Just like He did with Mary, God allows us to ask clarifying questions. We must listen to the Holy Spirit, God’s voice to us, and accept what He says as truth. There may be things the Spirit reveals to us we can’t understand, things that don’t seem possible. Mary’s example tells us we must choose to believe, regardless of whether or not we can figure everything out on paper.
An Attitude of Relying
After Mary releases what she’s been holding onto, she chooses to rely on God. She keeps living, believing everything she’s been told. The Bible doesn’t record if Mary had moments of second-guessing Gabriel’s appearance. Undoubtedly, being pregnant would dispel many doubts, but she could have easily wondered if she heard all the instructions correctly.
I am convinced, I would have experienced moments of panic when I just knew I didn’t remember everything. I would’ve been asking God to send Gabriel back because I had a few more questions. Many times, we flounder after releasing something to Christ, because we don’t take the next step of fully relying on Him.
Relying Requires Submission
In Luke 1:38, Mary declares, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” (NLT) Mary chose to submit. She saw herself clearly and she saw God clearly in all His majesty and power.
God has blessed us with wisdom from the Apostle Paul. In his second letter to the Corinthian church, he talks about a conversation he had with God. God reminded him, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT)
Jesus told his followers in Matthew 11, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Verses 29-30 NLT)
Mary also sought out a support system to help her. After Gabriel leaves, Luke tells us Mary gathered her things together and traveled to visit Elizabeth. Indeed, releasing and relying are difficult when you journey alone. Mary chose to be with someone who could understand what she was experiencing, as well as someone she knew would encourage her to remain strong in her faith.
An Attitude of Rejoicing
The third and final attitude Mary exhibits is rejoicing. Rejoicing was not the end result of releasing and relying on God. Moreover, Mary didn’t wait to rejoice; Mary chose to rejoice while living was still hard.
Luke 1:46-55 is Mary’s song of praise; it is called The Magnificat. These verses are reminiscent of Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2, where she talks about the greatness and power of God as she leaves her young son to be raised in the temple by Eli, the priest. Both women, living in difficult circumstances, both releasing and relying, chose to rejoice.
Mary chose to rejoice because
- God is her Savior (verse 47)
- God took notice of her (verse 48)
- God is holy and has done great things for her (verse 49)
- God is merciful from generation to generation to all who fear Him (verse 50)
- God is powerful and sovereign (verse 51-52)
- God provides (verse 53)
- God is just (verse 53)
- God is faithful to His promises (verse 54-55)
Following Mary’s Example
We believe Christmas is a time to possess joy. For this reason, one could choose to move straight to rejoicing during this holiday season. You could list your own reasons to rejoice in God and attempt to focus your mind. However, I wonder if you would be trying to create a spiritual emotion in your own strength.
What I find wondrous in the story of Mary is she is such a young girl who exhibits such mature faith. I think her willingness to release and rely before choosing to rejoice enriched her joy. She entrusted all of who she was, and every moment she would breathe, to her Lord and Savior.
This Christmas, as you shop, decorate, and celebrate, will you carve out time to sit with Christ? Imagine Him coming to you just as Gabriel came to Mary. How does He greet you? What opportunity does He offer you? Listen, ask a question or two, then begin the journey of releasing your ideal image of life. Release your expectations for your family, your job, even what you assume will make this season great. Choose to rely on who He is and all He tells you is true. Then create a list of your reasons to rejoice in God.
It really will be the most wonderful time of the year.
Mary, Joseph and Jesus Photo by David Beale on Unsplash
