Strange Blessings

 December 12, 2024

What kind of blessing is this?

““Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.” —Luke 1:30-31 

Gabriel had just told Mary she was favored by God. When you think of God’s favor, what comes to mind? Wealth? Health? Happy family? For you girls, I’ll bet you wouldn’t equate God’s favor with an out-of-wedlock pregnancy that you’ll have to explain to your fiancé when you get home from a trip. It would be hard enough in our culture, but back then, such things were seriously frowned upon. Mary would be shunned, an outcast; her husband-to-be would be laughed at, her family shamed. This was definitely NOT good news! Even the angel’s explanation that her baby would be the Savior of the world wouldn’t be able to dull the edge that would cut to the depths of her heart.

Pay attention here: When God favors you, it may not look to you like the blessing you want to receive. It may look more like shame than honor; it may include ridicule and ostracism; Mary was only beginning to learn how much God’s blessing would cost her.

The blessing God has for you may tear at your very soul. Often, the feel-good blessings are Satan’s counterfeit, while the challenges are God’s gift, designed to drive you to your knees and to the foot of the Cross.