Today, I want to share a special chapter from my book, Mercy Mild: A 25-Day Christmas Devotional Tracing Christ’s Love from Eden to Eternity. This chapter, titled “8 Days Until Christmas: The Surprises of Motherhood,” dives into the story of Mary, whose obedience and faith ushered in the greatest gift humanity has ever known.
As you read, I hope you’ll be encouraged and reminded of the beauty of God’s plan—even in the unexpected surprises life brings.
(The full chapter follows below.)
8 Days Until Christmas: The Surprises of Motherhood
“And Mary said, ‘Behold, the bond-servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.’” — Luke 1:38
Picture Nazareth—not Jerusalem with its bustling temple, not Rome with its grandeur. A small town where everyone knows everyone’s business. That’s where we meet Mary. She’s planning a wedding, thinking about life with Joseph, doing what young women did back then.
Nothing about her circumstances screams “special.” She walks the same dusty streets as her neighbors, carries water from the same well, faces the same daily pressures of honor and reputation in a small town. Her mind likely fills with normal concerns—marriage plans, family expectations, making ends meet.
Then God shows up in the middle of normal. That’s what happens here in Luke’s Gospel. No warning, no appointment—just Gabriel standing there with news that would shake the world.
An Unanticipated Pregnancy: The Surprise of Selection
“Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you,” the angel announces. His next words change everything: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:31–32).
Mary’s question cuts straight to the point: “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” It’s practical, real. And Gabriel’s answer points to God doing what only He can do: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).
Think about what this means for Mary. Her whole life—marriage plans, reputation, future—everything shifts in this moment. But here’s what grabs me: God doesn’t force His plan. He invites her in. And Mary? She steps forward with a simple yet profound response: “Behold, the bond-servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
Then Mary’s story collides with real-world consequences. In a culture where purity meant everything, an unwed pregnancy didn’t just raise eyebrows—it threatened her life. We see this play out when Joseph first hears the news. His immediate thought to end their engagement quietly reveals the crushing weight of social pressure they faced.
God steps in through a dream, and Joseph chooses to stand with Mary. But think about what she still carried: the whispers, the judgment, the possibility of raising this child alone. No wealth, no status, no special qualifications—just an ordinary young woman whose selection rested entirely on God’s grace.
This choice challenged everything their society valued. Mary’s youth and inexperience? In God’s hands, these became strengths, highlighting His power rather than human capability. Her obedience led straight into social complexity, yet these very challenges showed the depth of her faith and the abundance of God’s grace.
An Unexpected Child: The Surprise of Sonship
Forty days after Jesus’ birth, Mary and Joseph bring Him to the temple, as required by Jewish law—presenting their firstborn son to God and offering their modest sacrifice of two doves. They expect the usual ceremony. But then Simeon steps forward.
This elderly man had waited years, holding onto God’s promise that he wouldn’t die before seeing the Messiah. The Holy Spirit moves him to approach this young couple, and he cradles their baby in his arms. His words shake Mary’s world: “This Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed… and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34–35) Joy and pain, wrapped in one prophecy.
Imagine raising a child after hearing those words. Mary watches Jesus grow like any other boy, yet catches glimpses of something more.
Years later, during their annual Passover visit to Jerusalem, twelve-year-old Jesus stays behind without His parents knowing. After three anxious days of searching, they find Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, both listening and asking questions. When Mary expresses her worry, His response stuns them: “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49) This moment reveals what Simeon saw: a child whose mission extends far beyond His mother’s understanding.
What runs through a mother’s mind when her utterly normal child is also… God? When He scrapes His knee and needs a bandage, but He’s the One who invented healing? When she teaches Him the Scriptures He breathed into existence? No one trained Mary for this. No scrolls explained how to parent the Creator of everything. She did what mothers do—took each day as it came. Fed Him. Taught Him. Worried about Him. Watched Him grow into who He was.
An Unexpected Loss: The Surprise of Suffering
Simeon’s words must have haunted Mary for decades: “And a sword will pierce even your own soul.” Did she understand then? Could anyone?
Now she stands at the cross.
Think about that for a second. The baby she once rocked to sleep hangs before her, gasping for air. Those hands she once held now strain against rough nails. The lips she once kissed cry out in agony. A mother isn’t supposed to watch her child die.
But she stays. When others run, Mary plants her feet in blood-soaked dirt and refuses to leave. What thoughts race through her mind? Maybe memories of His first steps, His laugh, the way He’d furrow His brow while working in the carpenter’s shop.
We talk about Jesus’ suffering—as we should. But there’s another kind of agony happening at the foot of that cross. A mother’s heart shatters as heaven’s plan unfolds through her Son’s broken body. Being chosen, being blessed—it didn’t spare Mary from this moment. It led her straight to it.
Real faith looks like standing firm when everything falls apart. Staying present when every instinct screams to run. Believing even when belief bleeds. Mary couldn’t have known that morning in the temple would lead here. None of us know where saying “yes” to God might take us.
What happens when our blessing becomes our breaking? When God’s favor feels more like fire than comfort?
An Unexpected Resurrection: The Surprise of the Son Rising
Ever notice how the Bible stays quiet about Mary’s first moment seeing Jesus alive? I keep trying to picture it. Did she run to Him like that morning in Jerusalem when He was twelve? Did her hands trace His scars, making sure He was real? Or did she just stand there, unable to speak, while every memory of His death shattered against the miracle of His breath? We’ll never know. The Gospel writers leave that moment between a mother and her risen Son unwritten. Some things are too holy for words.
But watch what happens next.
Mary doesn’t disappear after Easter. In the first chapter of the book of Acts, she’s there in the upper room, praying with the others (Acts 1:14). The same woman who once cradled an infant Messiah now joins in His church’s earliest days. Think about that—she who witnessed His first breath now watches His Spirit breathe life into this gathering of believers. Her story doesn’t end at the cross. Or even at the empty tomb. God keeps writing new chapters. From stable to upper room, she remains faithful.
This is a grace to notice—a faithful witness who stayed present through both the horror and the hope, trusting God’s promises. What do you do after you’ve watched your Son die and rise? Mary shows us—you keep showing up. You stay in the room. You pray. You love the people He loves.
Reflections on Faith and Obedience
You ever notice how Mary didn’t get the full story upfront? Gabriel shows up with this world-changing news, but he doesn’t hand her a detailed road map. No timeline. No warnings about crosses or swords through souls. Just a promise. And a choice.
“May it be done to me according to your word.” Words that would turn her whole world upside down. She couldn’t have totally known what she was signing up for. But that’s often how God works, isn’t it? He rarely shows us the whole staircase. Just the next step.
An angel visits, makes an impossible promise, and waits for her answer. And Mary doesn’t negotiate. Doesn’t ask for guarantees. She simply opens her hands and says yes.
God’s plans have this way of being both better and harder than we expect. Better, because He’s faithful beyond our imagining. Harder, because His glory often comes wrapped in moments that break our hearts.
Mary said yes to bearing the Messiah. That same yes led her to a cross.
But watch this—her trust wasn’t in her ability to handle whatever came next. Her confidence rested in God’s character, not her capacity. “Behold, the bond-servant of the Lord.” Not “I am capable” or “I am ready.” Just “I am His.”
That’s what real faith looks like: showing up empty-handed, saying yes before we understand everything, trusting that God’s got the rest. Not because we’re strong enough, but because He is.
Being chosen doesn’t mean being comfortable. Mary knew that better than most. But it does mean being held—held by the same God who keeps every promise He’s ever made.
What would change if we trusted like that? If we stopped waiting for perfect clarity and just took the next faithful step?
When God Asks: Will You Trust Me?
You know what amazes me about Christmas? It’s that quiet moment before all of it, when everything hung on one woman’s answer. The God who spun galaxies into space waited for Mary’s yes.
He still works that way, you know. Still shows up in ordinary moments with extraordinary invitations. Still whispers possibilities that seem too wild to be true.
And He’s still waiting for our answer.
A Prayer for the Day Ahead
Heavenly Father,
As we reflect on Mary’s extraordinary journey of faith, we are humbled and inspired. Give us courage to trust You when Your plans surprise us, wisdom to say yes before knowing all the details, and strength to accept both the favor and challenges of Your calling. Help us serve You with humble hearts, responding as Mary did: “May it be done to me according to Your word.”
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection Questions for Believers
- What makes it difficult for you to say “yes” to God’s unexpected calls?
- Where in your life do you need to trust God more fully right now?
- What fears or doubts hold you back from complete submission to God’s will?
Spiritual Conversation Starters for Unbelievers
- “What would make you willing to change your plans for something you believed in?”
- “What role does faith play in your major life decisions?”
- “How do you view the relationship between faith and uncertainty?”
Thank you for taking the time to reflect on Mary’s story with me. If this chapter spoke to you, I’d love for you to continue the journey. Mercy Mild: A 25-Day Christmas Devotional is filled with reflections like this. It walks through Christ’s love from Eden to eternity.
Feel free to share this post with someone who could use a reminder of God’s faithfulness this season. Blessings to you as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s birth!