“Do you believe in Santa Claus?” the other kids asked. Of course I did. My parents told me he lived in the North Pole and brought gifts to the good kids. I hung on to that belief until fourth grade when Santa left me a doll under the Christmas tree. Only I’d seen that very doll in my own mother’s closet.
My husband and I didn’t do Santa Claus, but my brother and his wife are still holding on, choosing to hope that their 5th grader believes in Santa. We all know she knows, but for the sake of her younger siblings, no one mentions it.
In the opening chapters of Luke, we see something much bigger to believe in than a man who rides a sleigh powered by flying reindeer. An angel visits Mary to announce that she will give birth to the Son of God. He also brings news that her cousin Elizabeth is expecting a child in her old age. Two miraculous births: one to a virgin, one to an elderly woman.
Mary amazes me because she believes the angel. If it had been me, I would have said, “What? You’ve got to be kidding! Because, um, that’s impossible.”
Mary responds simply: “How will this be?” She doesn’t ask IF it’s going to happen. She asks HOW it will happen. And apparently she believes enough to pack her bags and make the trip to visit Elizabeth.
Hidden in this story are two nuggets of truth for you and me:
This past year I prayed for greater faith. Our family faced some impossibilities that it made it hard to believe God would come through. So I prayed desperately for more belief. And you know what? God provided every need and showed Himself to me in unexpected ways. When I look back at what He did for me this year, I know God is real. With Him, everyday miracles are still a thing.
What impossibilities are you facing today?
Maybe you’re finding it hard to hold on to hope in a world of violence. Maybe you can’t shake anxiety and fear. Perhaps depression, worry, or stress has you down.
Let’s breathe in deep this December and keep choosing belief.
God’s Word is full of promises. He will come through for us. Listen to His words:
Do not fear, for I am with you. (Isaiah 41:10)
My peace I give to you. (John 14:27)
I heal the broken-hearted. (Psalm 147:3)
My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor. 12:9)
I will meet all of your needs according to my riches in glory. (Phil. 4:19)
I have plans to bless you and give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
God’s words to us will never fail. No matter what your need is, God will show up to meet it.
He showed up for us in the person of Jesus Christ, the God Man who shed His blood to pay the price for our sins. He shows up for us every day in the person of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Teacher who never leaves us.
We are not alone. There’s no darkness too big for God’s light, no fear too great for His love, and no need He cannot meet. With Jesus at our side, we’re safe and cared for. We’ll have everything we need. We’re blessed when we believe.
Join me each Tuesday in December for more on “Slowing Down to Savor the Good News.” You can subscribe to get each post in this series delivered to your inbox. Enter your e-mail address in the box at the top of this page.
I’m linking up with Holly Barrett’s #TestimonyTuesday, Kelly Balarie’s #RaRaLinkup, Holley Gerth’s Coffee for your Heart, Lyli Dunbar’s #ThoughtProvokingThursday, and Arabah Joy’s Grace and Truth. Check out these communities for more encouragement.
I continue to be in awe when I look back and see all God did for me this past year. I love the idea of ‘slowing down to savor the good news’. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing the month of December. I’ve resolved NOT to try and pour out, but to refill by spending more time in God’s presence. Not only reading His Word, but also listening, which I have a hard time doing:) Have a blessed Christmas, friend!
You have a blessed Christmas too, Kristine. Do you know just this morning I looked back over my journal the past year and was awed by all God has done. I also try to focus on being with my family and enjoying the holiday in December. I’m still busy enough, but do try to put some things on hold. 🙂
Betsy, such a beautiful truth > “Blessing comes to us when we choose to believe God.” Amen!
Thank you, Joanne. May you be blessed in believing, sister!
Thank you, Betsy, for prompting me to slow down and savor the good news today. Luke 1:45 has been the verse I chose for 2016 as my “year verse.” It speaks boldly to me. I continue to be in awe of God’s presence in my life and in the lives of others this year. What a precious gift He is! Merry Christmas, my friend!
What a great verse for your year. This one has always spoken to me too, Julie. So powerful.
It does come down to a choice. Sometimes we think of faith as something that you either have or don’t have — something that God hits us over the head with on the Damascus Road, maybe.
But I’m impressed once again with the truth of your words that when life is difficult (as it has been for you this past year, Betsy, and what a trooper you have been!) there are only two chairs in the room: the chair of faith, and the chair of unbelief.
Thanks for sitting in the right chair! And, by grace, I want to join you.
Thanks for your words of encouragement, Michele. I was discouraged after the Istanbul bombing, but God has been reminding me all over again of His goodness. Oh yes, I’m choosing belief!
Betsy, your listing of scripture above is powerful and beautiful all rolled into one. Seeing God’s word and promises together like that, does something to my belief. Merry Christmas, friend!
Amen, it encourages my faith too, Kristi. I’m praying for you, friend. Merry Christmas to you too.
Thank you for this reminder today. The timing is perfect. I need to hold onto the belief that God is faithful and His promises are true. I am holding onto the promise that God will heal the brokenhearted as I make my way through Advent toward the gift of Jesus and redemption. Thank you for giving me the chance to breathe deeply today.
Amen, Mary. He does, indeed, heal the broken-hearted. I’m praying for you now, friend. God is faithful. Just today I looked at the past few months of my journal entries and was amazed. I needed the encouragement, and it worked!
Yes and amen, Betsy! That is exactly what the kids and I studied this morning as God asked Sarah/Abraham — is anything impossible for the LORD? We just stopped our reading right there…and I wondered allowed how differently my life, the lives of all of us who profess Christ, would look if didn’t just nod our head along with that truth but if we walked out in full trust of that truth. That is my heart’s prayer. So grateful for your testimony that in this hard, hard year you saw God meet every need. <3 Praising Him with you today.
Thank you, Lisa. You’ve encouraged me so much this year, friend. I appreciate you more than you know. Yes, we need to walk out that belief. Nothing is impossible for God!
“There’s no darkness too big for God’s light, no fear too great for His love, and no need He cannot meet. ” Thanks so much for this encouraging word today, Betsy.
Oh Jeannie, thank YOU for reading. I’ve enjoyed your advent posts as well. <3
Betsy, what a great message! My word this year was believe and God has shown up in such big ways as I keep choosing to believe.
Thanks so much for reading my words, Laura. Wow, that is wonderful that you chose the word “believe.” I love that word. It’s one of my favorites. 🙂
Betsy,
I so enjoy your posts. I needed this honesty and encouragement. I pray that God will show up big in My life during this blessed season.May God bless you
Thanks so much for reading this, Mariane. I’m praying now that He will show Himself big in your life!
These are the things that bring us deeper faith: “When I look back at what He did for me this year, I know God is real. With Him, everyday miracles are still a thing.” Thanks for sharing, Betsy!
Yes, I rarely take time to look back, but when I do I’m always encouraged by His faithfulness. Miracle after miracle. Grace after grace.
Betsy,
I’ve been thinking about you and your family and praying as God leads.
How encouraging to look back and to see how God provided the “impossible” for you. Funny, my post has to do with belief and Luke 1, too 🙂
Advent blessings to you and yours,
Dolly
Thank you, Dolly. Yes, it has been an amazing year, kind of hard, but that’s how we got to see the amazing part! 🙂
Betsy,
God may not answer our need in the way we expect Him to, but He WILL answer our need. Our storm may not go away, but He is able to give us peace in the midst of it. I don’t need to fear the future because God already has it. Great comfort indeed. Claiming His promises with you…
Blessings,
Bev
I needed to hear this today, Betsy. Thank you for your encouraging words!
Thanks so much for being here today, Sabra. I was so sorry to hear about your father-in-law.
I needed to hear this today too, Betsy. Thanks for this as I am going through a hard time of chronic pain. Blessings in the Christmas season for our beautiful Savior who gave up His life for us.
Oh, I’m so sorry, Sylvia. I know what that is like. Blessings to you too. Praying for you now. Lord, encourage Sylvia’s faith and relieve her pain. Fill her mind and heart with light and hope. Heal her body. In Jesus’ name.
I love that hidden away in Mary’s story is her fear and her question of the angel. It’s not something we dwell on, but I find it oh-so-assuring that we can come to God with all of who we are and that He still loves us and can use us!
A miracle indeed!
Advent blessings to you, to your family, Betsy. It’s a joy to share this blogging life with you …
What a beautiful insight, Linda. We can come to Him with our fear. 🙂 He will still use us. Blessings to you too, Linda. Your space on-line brings me joy as well.
Oh, Betsy! What sweet reassuring words. I’m holding on to this… Mary didn’t ask if, she asked how! That distinction is critical! Thanks for breathing new life into me this morning! XO
Oh Liz, I’m praying God’s blessings and light over you now, sweet friend. Merry Christmas!
Amen Betsy! We were never much into Santa Claus as a family. I remember getting up on Christmas Eve as a child just to sneak a peek of mom and dad wrapping presents in the den. I was so excited when I saw my 10-speed bike next to the tree when I was 13 years old!
As my love for Jesus grows stronger now, I am blessed by this time of year. I am thankful for my Savior’s willingness to humble Himself to be born as a baby. We have so much to celebrate as you confirm in the powerful scriptures you share. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a blessed holiday season!
Mary is such a great example of faith in God to do the impossible. And it’s true, it is a choice: do we focus on the “impossible” circumstances or on God’s power and promises?
God will show up to meet our needs.
Yes, and sometimes those needs are not what we thought.
Merry Christmas!
Sarah I have been waiting over a year to hear His plan…..Very hard in the waiting, I pray I did not ruin by my misstep what He had for me.. Thank you for your thoughts, those came with good timing
Can you even imagine what was going through Mary’s head? Yet, she believed. I think God picked the right girl for the job. Betsy, your posts always leave me calmer than when I stopped by. Thank you for being you, and showing up this year. Merry Christmas! — (Was thinking about you with all the news going on in Turkey right now. Praying for all. ((hug)) )
“There’s no darkness too big for God’s light, no fear too great for His love, and no need He cannot meet.” Hmmm…I love this. I am so thankful for that truth. It fills my heart with peace and awe. Thanks for sharing on Grace and Truth!