Don't Be Afraid

 

"Mrs. Howell, don't worry about the wild animals. 
They usually fall in the quicksand." 

~ Gilligan, Gilligan's Island

Remember the old show "Gilligan's Island" (possibly pre-dated dinosaurs), where their biggest peril was quicksand?  Contrary to the frequent elusion to it on this show, I had never seen or heard of it until recently a hiker in Utah was stuck in it.  However, it developed a paralyzing fear in me as a child, right along with spiders.

And snakes.  My friend and I recently engaged in a heroic battle with a snake in her basement (it was more her than me, as I stood there screaming).  We successfully got it in a trash can and put it outside, only to find out it was a fake one.  (No names will be mentioned about how it got there, Karen.)

Fear of real things is real.  What if there's math? But what about the fears of imagined possibilities?  What if we don't have enough money?  What if I'm rejected?  What if I fail?  What if I can't?  What if I'm not strong enough?

Mary was a young teenage woman when she was informed of her new role that would subject her to the utmost criticism, judgment and rejection of her life, and possibly death - both present and future. She would be the mother of the Savior of the world, and no one would believe that she had conceived by the Holy Spirit and not man.  

The Annunciation by Da Vinci, Uffizi Gallery

I can't imagine what could possibly have gone on in Mary's mind and heart as she heard this news.  Was it doubt, terror, unbelief, or denial?  Maybe.  Was her faith strong enough to even fathom such an occurrence? Yes.  

But her response showed her resolve about who she was in the Lord, in Luke 1:38-

"I am the Lord's servant.  May everything you have said about me come true."

As a young teenager she had enough trust to know that God is faithful, and will bring about what He says will happen.  She resolved in her mind that she would accept His will and role for her life and praise Him for who He is.  Her trust in Him grew out of her love for Him and who she knew He was.

Faced with the cruelty and oppression of the Roman rule, Mary had grown up having deep roots in God - with a hope that He would save them.  

Are the trials in our lives scaring us away from our faith in God, or towards Him and His ability to rescue us?  When fears imagined consume us, do we run to His Word in prayer, like David did when he was running from Saul and hiding in caves to save his life- 

"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me.
for in You my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge, 
till the storms of destruction pass by." Ps 57:1

God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8).  As He was with Mary, the mother of our Lord, He will be with us.  Fear not.

✙ Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for being the same God in our lives as we read about in Your Word. Thank You for showing us role models of faith that we can be encouraged by as we face our trials.  And thank You for this season to remind us of how You intricately and lovingly planned our redemption.  Amen.