It was not as picture perfect as we might imagine.
Mary, visited by the angel to share the good news that she would carry and give birth to Jesus, God’s son, who would redeem the world.
She was a teenager! Confused and scared.
The angel had to specifically tell her not to be afraid.
So instead of fear, Mary chose to trust. With no other options, she could only act in obedience and trust God to provide. And provide he did – Elizabeth for companionship and Joseph for support.
But what about us?
We’re not visited by an angel when we’re in the midst of an overwhelming life situation. Instead, we comfort ourselves with the common Christian saying, “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle so he must think I can manage this on my own.”
Oh friend, this is so far from the truth!
I’m convinced that God DOES give us more than we can handle so that we will have to rely on Him. [click to tweet]
This week I had lunch with a dear friend. As I recapped my year, she was quickly able to see how challenging life had been on a day to day basis for our family – finances, relationships, spiritual life – the whole bit.
As I poured out my heart, I realized the only way I made it through that tumultuous year was by releasing my firm grasp on my illusion that I can control my life and instead embracing faith that God really does keep his promises and would take care of us. There is no other explanation.
Moving forward, I’m learning the joy of freedom in not knowing all the answers but trusting the one who does.
Like Job, I had heard of the Lord, but now I see him. (Job 42:5)
My ears had heard about you, but now my eyes have seen you. Job 42:5 image credit
*This post is part of Lisa-Jo Baker’s 5 Minute Friday series, where she encourages bloggers to write for 5 minutes each Friday on a specific topic. Free writing. No edits. Writing just for the sheer joy of it. Today’s topic was “Visit“. Also sharing with Essential Fridays, Faith Filled Fridays, and Beauty Observed.
I pray today that you will choose to experience the joy and freedom of releasing your grip of {perceived} control on your life and instead allow God to control you from the inside out and give you unfathomable peace.
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What a lovely sentiment. Sometimes we really do get more than we can handle, but God is still there, waiting for us to get it. He is never far.
Absolutely. It’s when we get more than we can handle that we’re more likely to turn to him! So thankful he is patient with us.
Yes!!! So true! We need to lean not on our understanding, but trust in our all knowing God!!
Thanks for sharing your life with us!!
You’re so right. If we lean on our own understanding, things will never make sense. I have learned that the hard way this past year but thankfully God is patient and gracious with me.
I totally agree with you, LeeAnn, that God does give us more than we alone can handle sometimes. Thankfully He never leaves us to handle it alone! I’m studying Luke right now and am so intrigued by the maturity of such a young girl to handle the angelic visitation. Good to see you at FMF!
The way Mary handled her situation is evidence of God’s presence and strength in so many ways!
So very true! We come to know God & His character through the hardships & joys we go through together with Him. And nothing compares to knowing Him! So glad that I visited this morning from Beauty Observed. Blessings!
Yes, even our fear of the unknown should not be enough to keep us from pursuing a true relationship with our Father. Thanks for visiting from Beauty Observed!
Love that – God DOES give us more than we can handle, because we can only handle it through Him. I had never heard it put that way before.
This is something I’ve talked to my husband about for a long time. It’s in the trials that we draw closer to God. Such a Biblical concept but it’s often overlooked.
“I realized the only way I made it through that tumultuous year was by releasing my firm grasp on my illusion that I can control my life and instead embracing faith that God really does keep his promises and would take care of us. There is no other explanation.”
I am here. My husband and I are in the place where we thought we could control and plan and deem this or that our future. BUT…not so and surrendering our desires or needs or hopes is the most important thing we are doing and then trusting, holding the faith up and before us to the God of all …that is just where we are. Thanks for the encouragement.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Yes, surrender is so key and is something I have struggled with in fear of the unknown if I do truly surrender. I’m slowly learning to remember that God is good and he gives good gifts to his children and when I surrender to Him, good things abound, even if they are not in my timing or in a way I understand at the moment!
“I’m convinced that God DOES give us more than we can handle so that we will have to rely on Him.” Very thought provoking! I agree with Holly’s above-He never leaves us to handle it alone!
Thanks for linking-up today at Beauty Observed!
Glad to be linking up and hope the post was food for thought!
Letting go of what we don’t really hold is freedom! Love this!
YES~love how you put it.
Love this! The part about Mary really makes you think. So often we think of the nativity and we don’t really grasp how terrifying that would have been for a girl in her time period. God is faithful, all the time.
Yes, the reality of the nativity is often glossed over when we tell the story and don’t think of the true implications of the situation in the time period in which it occurred. Truly powerful!
There are many trite Christian phrases that trip of the tongue but don’t necessarily have much meaning. They don’t really reflect the profundity of God’s truth. Thanks for sharing your difficulties and being honest about how God carries us through them.
Thanks for sharing at Essential Fridays.
Blessings
Mel from Essential Thing Devotions
I love your perspective on this! Sometimes we do feel overwhelmed but by looking inside and to God for the answer! He is always there no matter what!
Our church recently went through a sermon series that was focused on myths and the saying that God doesn’t give us more than we can handle was one of them. I so agree with what you shared and I’m glad you shared this again so I would not miss. Blessings to you. {Hugs}