Mary, Did You Know?

During this period of Lent, people of faith often take moments to reflect. This week I tried to imagine the head space that Mary [ the mother of Jesus] was in back then. In the coming days she would stand and watch her son die a painful death. How much did she know? As a young girl, she was chosen by God to birth the Savior. When the angel met her and gave the news, it was recorded that Mary, ‘pondered these things in her heart’. Apart from the conversation with the Angel Gabriel, not much was recorded about what else was revealed to her.

On my journey of faith, I’ve discovered that God doesn’t always give the details. This ‘not knowing’ is what calls us to grow in faith – to trust that God will not lead us adrift. I picture through the years, Mary would frequently observe her son. As she held him, watched him take his first steps, taught him basic life skills, and keenly watched him with other children – she must have asked God a question or two. I wonder how many of her questions seem to be left ‘unanswered’. I imagine God would appear silent at times. Some things she probably didn’t need to know at the moment. Quite likely she couldn’t handle the weight of the truth. After all, God knew she would eventually see and understand the full picture. Like the song writer so fittingly put it: ‘ The child that you delivered, will soon deliver you.’ Mary lived to see much of what Angel said come to pass. [See Luke 1:26-38]

I find that God shows up in the details of our life. If we weren’t so busy worrying or complaining, we would see that more clearly. However, in His wisdom, the scripted blow by blow descriptions are often kept hidden. By nature, we want to see the planned details before we respond. Faith requires us to respond from a place of obedience then we begin to see what ‘ God was up to’. I don’t believe we are going to understand it all – we were never promised that. Somethings that we encounter in life will never have an explanation attached. We need to be okay with that.

During this season of reflection, I release the need to know and the desire to control life’s outcomes. Jason Gray shared some lyrics with us in 2020 that touched a chord in my heart:

… None of my pain has ever caught You by surprise
Still it’s hard to trust You when I’m lost in the wondering why
But I’ll trade every question just to lay down and rest in Your heart
And I’ll reach for Your hand, though You led me here into the dark

… And I won’t ask You for reasons
‘Cause a reason can’t wipe away tears
No, I don’t need all the answers
Just be here beside me
Father, remind me You’re here

[Excerpt ‘Remind Me You’re Here’ Jason Gray 2020]

Like Mary, may we find ourselves in a place of sweet surrender where we trust Our Father’s hand to willingly say, “May everything you have said about me come true.” [Luke 1:38] Even when we don’t get or understand the details, it’s enough to know He’s there. Scriptures remind us there are secret things that belong to the Lord and others He reveals that are for us [Deuteronomy 29:29]. Today, may we be at peace as we trust Him without knowing the details – make peace with the unknown.

***Lenten Reflections