Embracing a different purpose

Last night we read Luke’s account of Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel. What amazed us again is how willingly Mary set aside whatever dreams or expectations she may have had for the way her life would be, and how fully she embraced God’s will for her—which undoubtedly was considerably different.

The following is a quote from a friend’s blog which I happened across tonight:

This is not the life I wanted to live, but it is the one I have been granted and I believe that He will enable me to use it purposefully. — Arcee

I believe it is written in a similar spirit as Mary’s response to God. I can only hope and pray my friend will continue to walk forward in this same spirit. Still, it would not surprise me if even Mary, the mother of Jesus, experienced moments of fear and doubt along the way. Paul’s opening to the Philippian church provides some encouragement: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). The encouragement is that God will help us to fulfill that purpose for which he created us. We need only follow him and trust…