The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”
(Luke 1:28-35 NIV)
What are your expectations for your life?
It can be a difficult question to answer. It often takes wading through disappointment to find the true answer to that question. Maybe you expect to get married, have a family, get a well-paying job, or retire at 65. Maybe you expect to go to a certain school, succeed in athletics, or start a business.
Perhaps your expectations are all too clear to you, because they have just been shattered. The story you’re living is one you never expected. There’s comfort for you in the pages of the Bible.
What an Ordinary Girl Likely Expected
There was a girl in the Bible who expected an ordinary life. She was already betrothed, so she had a secure future ahead of her—provision, protection, and probably a family. Her fiancé, Joseph, was a wonderful man—a hardworking carpenter who had deep convictions, loved the Lord, and tried his best to do what’s right.
Despite the difficulty of living in the Roman Empire, which could be hostile to her Jewish faith, she would be sheltered by a man of faith. They could live to please God together. She would enjoy the peaceful celebration of their wedding day, eagerly looking forward to her happy life to come.
But God had different plans for this girl—wildly different plans.
When the Life You Expected Shatters
Can you imagine Mary’s surprise when the angel Gabriel showed up? The angel revealed to Mary that without being married or ever being joined to a man, she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit’s power. She would miraculously give birth to the Savior of the world, the promised Messiah.
Despite this immense privilege for Mary, this wasn’t all glorious for her. Now she would face the suspicion and false accusations of her neighbors. She would likely lose relationships and the favor of the people she most loved like family and friends. She didn’t know how Joseph would respond, and when she explained what happened, he would assume she had done him great wrong. This would be her story, and it was likely that people who heard what happened would never shake their suspicions of her. She would bear the responsibility of being a mom before the time she expected to have children. We could continue to list Mary’s impending hardships.
God’s good plans for Mary shattered her expectations. Fortunately, we don’t have to guess how she responded. In Luke 1:46-56, we read Mary’s song of praise.
We don’t know if Mary cried or laughed when she reflected on the angel’s words. We do know that she humbly accepted God’s will and praised him for his plan—and this is the response God records for us in his Word. She trusted that his plan was better than the life she expected for herself.
If Mary were to speak to us today, surely she would tell us that no suffering overshadowed the joy of living so close to the Savior, Jesus.
God’s plan continued to challenge Mary’s expectations as she watched her son’s life and ministry culminate in his own death and resurrection. Mary probably spent a long time trying to understand what God was doing. Eventually, she was able to look back and see how God’s plans for her life were better than anything she could have imagined.
She had been the mother to the Savior of the world and known him more closely in human terms than most others. Because of her son’s life, death, and resurrection, she was reconciled to God, and she had the hope of eternal life with him (1 Peter 3:18). What a privilege to have carried, given birth to, cared for, raised, and then loved with motherly love the Savior of the world!
What Are Your Expectations?
God’s will for his children is good too. God’s will for all those who have trusted in the Savior, Jesus, is that we would know him, which is the greatest privilege we can experience in this life (Philippians 3:8). It may be that, like Mary, our shattered expectations are actually at the heart of God’s plan for us to know him intimately. Whatever your expectations are for this life, God aims to give you the greatest gift—himself. A life of knowing Jesus Christ personally and having his companionship now and in eternity is worth any disappointment you may face in this life (Philippians 3:8).
Will you let give Jesus your expectations? Will you give him your current expectations, and will you submit to him the ones that have shattered? In the words of a wonderful song,
Is there room in your heart for God to write his story?
…It may set you apart when you make room in your heart and trade your dreams for his glory. (Casting Crowns, Make Room).
(Consider listening to Mary & Joseph by Chris Renzema!)