There was a young, poor girl who lived in a time of oppression in the land she was born. It was a simple but hard life. She believed in the God of the Bible, that He had always watched over His people, those who followed Him and tried to obey His standards. This teenager must have had a very pure heart for God to choose her to bring His love into the world. She could have said “no” but instead she said, “I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said.” The whole account can be read in Luke 1:26-38.

Mary would be looked down on as a young girl who had become pregnant before she was married to her fiancé. The rumors were surely swirling. Joseph, her fiancé had a hard time believing the miracle story about this visit from an angel telling her she would carry the Savior of the world in her womb. The Savior, who the Bible had foretold would come and break through the darkness and save the people from their sins and restore man from the fall of rebellion against God. The Angel sent to tell Mary the wonderful news also told her she was highly favored by God. Her value to the world was little but to the Creator she was treasured.

The angel, Gabriel was on double duty during this time because He also had visited Joseph, Mary’s fiancé and told him that it was true what Mary had told Him about becoming pregnant for God’s plan to be fulfilled. The angel also told Joseph that the child was to be named Jesus. Joseph said yes to God as well. Mary was an instrument of God’s love to us all! She rejoiced as she proclaimed the greatness of God in using her as His humble servant. Luke 1:46-55 is Mary’s declaration of thanksgiving to God.

There are so many miracles surrounding the coming of Jesus into the world. Proven miracles that Jesus is the Son of God. Several hundred years before Jesus was born the prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child will be born, to us a Son will be given. And the rule of the nation will be on His shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

As I wandered in the world I was born into, I faced a lot of trauma and darkness but God led me to find the Savior. I battled feeling rejected, like my life didn’t matter, I was abused in many ways from my childhood into my adult years. As I sit here writing this blog tears of joy and thankfulness are streaming down my face as I ponder how His love broke through the darkness that tried to destroy my life. He became my Wonderful Counselor, my Mighty God, my Everlasting Father and my Prince of Peace. I said, “Yes Lord, have Your way in my life!” It is up to each one of us to say yes to Him as Mary did and as Joseph did.

This traditional Christmas season when the hustle and bustle keeps you running or maybe if you are living in an abusive home it may be a little worse at this time of year because of the pressures to live up to the standards of the world and increased expectations. I pray you stop, just breathe and experience Jesus’ love for you. I pray you find the gift of the Prince of Peace is more satisfying than any other gift you receive this Christmas. I pray you find hope and rest in the amazing grace of Father God. He hears you when you talk to Him my friend. He will break through the darkness and bring you into His light as you turn to Him with all your heart and say, “Yes Lord, have Your way in my life.”

In His Peace, Sharon Kay