LUKE 2:19
“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”
Not yet even a teenager, never known a man intimately, betrothed to the one she loves, awaiting a marriage in the future with wonderful anticipation of life full of joy and surprises-but in one moment of time an angel of the Lord delivers her a message that changes her destination and ours forever.
All we have in the beginning of this proclamation is that she pondered these things in her heart. What kind of an event except a divine appointment sent from God could have ever given this young girl the strength to walk step by step toward her calling? Knowing she was not in control anyway, so the only path she could walk was the way of faith. Faith in the God she had been taught about all her life.
Days pass, weeks pass, and the baby within her womb begins to grow, and finally months, when one day she has a visit with her cousin Elizabeth who also is with child. Upon meeting with Elizabeth the salutation comes with a confirmation “behold the handmaid of the Lord” and immediately Elizabeth’s babe leaped in her womb! Holiness had just entered the room and even an unborn child was declaring his glory.
From that day forth I believe Mary’s heart was moved with many ponderings that would last through Jesus life until the very day when He said “It is finished!” If Mary could ponder with the unveiling life she lived as she watched her son through infancy, childhood, and finally as he became a man, fulfill day by day the purpose of God his Father, then I think little old me and you can ponder at life and realize that if we knew it all or understood it all, we would miss some of the most wonderful works in our life as he begins one at a time to enlighten us on our journey of faith.
I believe all of our journeys are somewhat the same, because living and growing inside of each of us is the Holy Spirit, God’s gift to us that came with that little baby in Mary’s womb whose name is Jesus, Emmanuel, which means God with us. When we accepted him our journey began in this life of faith. We walk, we, trust, we wait for our deliverer to come and the unveiling of life eternal to all those who believe in his name.
But until then there will be ponderings! Ponderings of the heart that have no answers at this time. So we wait sometimes patiently, sometimes anxiously, but the God of the universe, the God who lives in me hovers close as I call upon him to comfort me and enlighten me on my journey.
As I reflect on the close of this year I will have to be honest and say that there has been many challenges this year. Many ponderings of disappointments, unanswered questions, and loss, but I was reminded last Sunday that peace has come into the world! It’s not just an emotion or state of being. Peace is a person Jesus Christ our Lord, and if we have him our ponderings will bring us to him the peace that surpasseth all our understanding and he is all we need…………
May the Lord bless you in the new year!
Diane Mann
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#dianemannblogs