Saying "yes" to God

               Petitioning God, earnestly seeking Him for our heart's desire as Hannah did, presents one opportunity of “grabbing hold of God.”  However, other times God seems to want to approach us with marvelous opportunities to experience his “wonder-working power” like the old hymn says (“There is power in the Blood”).  Such is the case with Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Getting pregnant was not her plan as a betrothed but unwed young teenager.

               It seems God came looking for Mary, another “favored one” who also referred to herself as a “maidservant” of the Lord (Luke 1:38).  God had a plan to bring His son into the world, and He needed a willing vessel to be an important part of bringing this to pass.  So, He sent an angel, Gabriel, to announce to Mary how God Himself would by His Spirit conceive this Savior who would then be both human and divine.  Faced with her understandable consternation as to how this could happen, Gabriel elaborated: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest will overshadow you” (vs 35).  And for all of us, he summarized by saying, “For with God, nothing will be impossible” (vs 37).  Absolutely nothing.

               Another young, Godly woman was minding her own business when she found herself being called upon to save her people, the Jews, from Haman’s wicked plan to destroy them.  In this Old Testament story, Esther had just been chosen to replace the old queen, but even in her new position, she needed to be summoned by the king to come to him without any danger.  If not summoned, only if he raised his golden scepter could she approach without losing her life.  It was risky, but her Uncle Mordecai, who had raised her and was aware of God’s providential workings, implored her, saying, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).  After calling for a fast, she approached the king and set in motion the events that did, indeed, save her and her people from destruction.

               Hannah, a seeking one, Mary and Esther, more the sought after, but their stories reveal the wonderful ways God works in the lives of His people, the favored and humble servants of the living God.  Were we to “write the script” for our lives and God’s involvement in them, no doubt the limits of our understanding and vision would devise far different and easier plots.  Even Jesus, fully aware of how his earthly life would unfold, struggled with submitting to God’s way of saving us. 

What looks like difficulty or certain defeat can become wonderful opportunities for the display of God’s splendor, demonstrating what compassion and power can so marvelously bring forth in the lives of those who humbly seek His favor and answer His call.