Believing Beyond Norms (Daily Refresh, 12-20-25)

Mary was a young girl immersed in the quiet rhythms of Nazareth when an angel announced that she would bear the Son of God (Luke 1:31). The typical response to hearing this might be fear, or shock, or awe. Instead, Mary responded with belief—a belief that what the angel was telling her was the truth. “May your word to me be fulfilled,” she said to the angel (Luke 1:38). 

Witnessing this unwavering faith, Mary’s older cousin Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, acknowledged Mary’s faith and blessed her: “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

In these simple words, we hear a reminder to anchor our faith in the unwavering truth that God is faithful to fulfill His promises according to His Word. Elizabeth’s statement, “Blessed is she who has believed,” is more than an observation; it’s a present affirmation. The emphasis isn’t just on the fulfillment of these promises, but on the blessing that comes from believing and trusting in God’s plan. And it prompts us to examine our own faith journeys. Do we, like Mary, choose to surrender and trust in God’s promises?

Today, as you seek the Lord in prayer, express gratitude for the unexpected blessings. Ask for discernment to recognize God’s hand at work, even when circumstances seem contrary.

My Thoughts

God picked Mary, I think, because He knew how she would respond, with the same faith she had been showing in her life all along. I like the part of the devotional that places emphasis on believing and trusting in God’s plan. Yes, God would fulfill His promises, but how did Mary know that? Because she believed God and trusted Him. I am absolutely certain that I don’t have the kind of faith Mary had. I am more of a Zechariah kind of person who lost his ability to speak until after John the Baptist was born. He questioned the angel, saying in Luke 1: 18, “‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.'” I am one who likes to see the evidence before I step out, but God is consistently reminding me that I must step out in faith in order to see Him move. Do I believe? Yes. Do I doubt sometimes? Yes. Does that make me an awful Christian? No, I think it tells you that I am flawed, just as we all are. Some things are easy for me to believe for; others are harder. I think the difference is knowing God’s will and that He will bring it to pass because He has promised it already in His Word.

I am sure I could not be a Mary or even an Elizabeth. But that is okay because God takes me just the way I am and works with me to make me a better Christian. I am a cracked pot on His potter’s wheel, but He continues to mold me and make me the way I should be. Flawed, imperfect but so very loved and blessed!