Can you imagine the emotional storm Mary, the mother of Jesus, experienced? She most likely stayed awake at night making plans for the day she married Joseph? She certainly thought about having a family, settling down in their community, Nazareth, and sharing life with their family and friends. But. Life changed. God came to her. And. She willingly stepped into God’s plan, which not only changed the course of her life but humanity’s history. Big.
But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them (Luke 2:19, NCV).
Luke, a physician, writes this sentence after writing about the details of the birth of Jesus through his perspective as a doctor. He understood this was hard stuff. So, he uses the word, but, to help us to understand Mary did not give into the storm of darkness. When the storm's pain of rejection, childbirth, and an unknown future collided, Mary treasured what God was doing, focusing and thinking on the divine gift. It was not only helped her to weather the storm but transformed her into a strong and courageous woman.
You and I are not exempt from the dark storms; however, we will not only make it through but become stronger, by seeking God, focusing on His work, and holding on to our faith that the darkness will not overcome the Light.
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
The thing is . . . being a part of the big plans of God is never easy . . . there’s always a storm brewing behind the scenes as darkness attempts to extinguish the Light of God.When the storm of darkness gathers strength, when dark clouds of oppression cover the light of day, when the high winds of adversity blow in, and when the rain of resistance strikes with force, a struggle ensues against our heart and soul, even when we know we’re on God’s path.
I have no doubt Mary battled this kind of dark storm on her journey to Bethlehem, most certainly feeling the pain of rejection from family and friends who did not believe her, wondering who would help deliver her baby, wanting the familiar women back home to help as she struggled with the bigness of her assignment to be the mother of the Messiah.And, yet, there is an insight to her perception of the power of God’s plan for her and the world:
But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them (Luke 2:19, NCV).
Luke, a physician, writes this sentence after writing about the details of the birth of Jesus through his perspective as a doctor. He understood this was hard stuff. So, he uses the word, but, to help us to understand Mary did not give into the storm of darkness. When the storm's pain of rejection, childbirth, and an unknown future collided, Mary treasured what God was doing, focusing and thinking on the divine gift. It was not only helped her to weather the storm but transformed her into a strong and courageous woman.
You and I are not exempt from the dark storms; however, we will not only make it through but become stronger, by seeking God, focusing on His work, and holding on to our faith that the darkness will not overcome the Light.
Refuse to let the darkness of the storms of life to overcome you. See the storm as a way to grow and become strong and courageous. So. Look for the work of God, treasure it as the gift of the day.Learning to Kickstart the day treasuring what God is doing even during the darkness of a storm.
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)