“I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10b)
I had sought refuge in a small memorial chapel during an unexpected heavy rain shower. Very minimal daylight was present inside. Tapered candles, lit and placed in trays of sand were the first images I could see. Then I saw her in sculpture, bathed in this candlelight–Mary holding Jesus in her arms at the foot of the Cross.
God had chosen Mary to birth His son, Jesus. An angelic encounter brought this news to her. Anointed words had greeted her bewilderment, “Do not be afraid” (Luke 1:30). Humbly, Mary said “yes” in agreement. How could she have deeply known what that “yes” would mean? We now know it was a pivotal moment for all of mankind.
In this sculpture image, I viewed a mother looking at the mutilated dead body of her son. This occurred before a Resurrection Sunday. Mary was human and so was her grief. She may have wondered how much more she could withstand from that “yes” murmured thirty-four years earlier.
Yet each of us can have our beginning moments of saying, “yes”, to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Our spiritual womb fills with his presence. How could any of us know where our “yes” will take us.
Such a vow places us at the edge of many unknowns. It will mean “yes” to plans bigger than our understanding, “yes” to times of both ease and difficulty, and “yes” in faith to follow a risen Lord in trust, regardless of what occurs along the pathway of our life. The One we follow assures us that there are no unknowns to Him.
Mary’s years of love and faith were not in vain. Neither are ours. With each “yes” we gain strength. It may seem as weak as a small flickering candle’s flame but we have the grace to continue to move into God’s wider light. One day we will step into the eternal light of Home where there will be no more unknowns.
Prayer: Yes, Lord. As those who have gone before me and who were upheld as they walked in your righteousness, I choose to do the same. Amen.
About the Author:
Lynn Severance is a retired elementary classroom teacher. She lives in Lynnwood, Washington. She writes to encourage others as God has encouraged her during 30 years of living with daily physical challenges.
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How can Mary’s example help you face the current unknowns that overwhelm you? How does your faith and assurance of Christ’s Resurrection help you continue to say, “yes” to Him, in spite of questions that remain unanswered?
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