“She lives a charmed life,” a friend said regarding her daughter-in-law. “Everything just works out for her.”
If a charmed life is easy, then what do you imagine a highly-favored-of-God life to be? Mary, the mother of Jesus, was highly favored of God. Yet her life was difficult.
God chose Mary to be the mother of His only Son. Gabriel the angel called Mary highly favored of God twice in their brief encounter. “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you”(Luke 1:28).
If an angel called you highly favored, wouldn’t you expect some free “get out of pain” passes? If God picked you to carry His child, wouldn’t you anticipate some special treatment? Surely, He’d assure your fiancé of your faithfulness.
I’m not sure what Mary imagined would happen when she returned from a three-month visit with her cousin to tell Joseph she was pregnant—with God’s Son. But he didn’t buy it. Since their engagement could only be ended by divorce or death, he looked for a way to quietly divorce her.
Mary didn’t live a charmed life. Her fiancé believed she’d cheated on him. She saw Joseph’s pain and had no way to prove her faithfulness.
Since God set the bar on sexual purity, why did He let others believe Mary was sexually immoral? Why did He put this couple through this tension?
Since God set the bar on sexual purity, why did He let others believe Mary was sexually immoral? #HighlyFavored, #RechargeWednesday @DebbieWWilson Click To TweetIn the nick of time, God sent an angel to stop Joseph from divorcing Mary. But the religious leaders continued to call Jesus illegitimate even in His adult years. God allowed people, including their religious leaders, to believe Joseph and Mary were sexually loose, when they had shown extraordinary restraint. Joseph kept her a virgin until after Jesus’ birth.
I wonder how many Jewish customers and friends Joseph lost in his carpentry business because of this scandal. Wouldn’t you think God would clear the reputation of this highly favored couple?
Conflict may be a sign of God’s favor!
Isaiah 55:8 reminds us God’s ways are not our ways. They are better. God cleared Mary’s reputation with those with whom it mattered. He also used this misunderstanding to benefit Mary, Joseph—and us.
- Mary and Joseph could empathize with those who doubted their story. They didn’t waste energy being offended that others didn’t believe them. After all, it took an angel’s visit for Joseph to understand.
- Joseph modeled how to handle betrayal.
- Mary and Joseph’s faith grew. With each new challenge they remembered God’s faithfulness through previous tests.
- When people believe lies about us, we know we’re in good company. Some of God’s most highly favored saints were misunderstood.
Having God’s favor didn’t mean ease for Mary. Instead of having a midwife and a clean bed, Mary delivered God’s Son in a stable. Instead of being escorted by the king’s army, soldiers hunted her boy to murder him. And when Jesus grew up, His scourging and crucifixion pierced her own heart. Definitely not a charmed life!
As we prepare for Christmas, let’s not let the world’s view of how this holiday should look rob us of the true riches we have in Christ. God’s ways are not our ways; they are infinitely better. Despite her trials, Mary learned that no problem is too big for God. She dwells in heaven today with the Father and the Son. If you asked her, she’d say the favor of God surpasses a charmed life.
As we prepare for Christmas, let’s not let the world’s view of how this holiday should look rob us of the true riches we have in Christ. #RechargeWednesday Click To TweetLINKUP PARTY opens at 6 am EST!
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Patricia,
I needed this post today. Perhaps I am highly favored because the trials pour down like rain? So true that the rain falls on the unjust as well as the just. I know these trials continue to draw me into a closer relationship with the Lord and that is a good thing. Great post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev, the stories of real people of faith in the Bible and today remind us we’re not home yet. And yes, you are highly favored! God chose you before the foundation of the earth to be His.
Wasn’t it Mother Teresa who said, “God, if this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few”?
We are privileged and highly favored to walk with God, and I’m blessed by this reminder that the journey is not always what I would have chosen, but nonetheless, “God always gives the best to those who leave the choice with Him.”
Michele, that quote always makes me chuckle. I think Fiddler on the Roof had a similar one about being part of God’s chosen people. And I agree, “God always gives the best to those who leave the choice with Him.”
Debbie, this is such a powerful truth! Even God’s most highly favored were misunderstood. It especially stands out to me that, like you said, they understood being misunderstood since it took an angel to convince Joseph! I need to be so compassionate and humble when I feel misunderstood. Thanks for this!
Bethany, chewing on this story reveals so many facets of faith. And their lack of bitterness is one. Thanks!
Beautiful, Debbie. And such fresh insight on Mary’s story. Love this thought that highly favored is not a charmed life. Most great spiritual truths are foolishness to the world. What we think should be a glorious event or calling, is often hard and full of suffering. Even the Christian journey itself is laughable to non-believers and maybe why it’s the “narrow” way.
Thank you for this new perspective.
Thank you, Karen! We cause ourselves needless pain when we look at life from the world’s viewpoint.
Wow! I needed to hear this perspective today for myself and for a friend who is walking an extremely painful path. Thank you so much for being used of God today. laurensparks.net
Lauren, I’m so glad God used it to encourage you. He is amazing!
Thank you Patricia for this teaching on God’s character and how He is always working out what is best for us even when there are judgments against us. I hadn’t seen this lesson that
“conflict may be God’s favour” in this passage before. You bring the scriptures to life and to application! Appreciate you!
My apologies! I mean to say thank you for Patricia for having Debbie’s teaching here today! Thank you to you both!
Thank you, Lynn!
We don’t always see conflict as a sign of affirmation but yes, sometimes it may be just that. Thanks for this post, Debbie.
That is not how we view life is it? Thanks, Lisa.