Lessons from Mary

By Tori Harris

Mary the mother of Jesus has long been one of my favorite people in the Bible to study. There are so many rich lessons we can learn from her, especially as girls and women. It was the custom during those times for women to be married young. It is not known for certain, but likely that Mary was a teenager when she was betrothed to Joseph. Put yourself in her place for a moment. As a teenager, can you imagine an angel suddenly appearing to say, “you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus” (Luke 2:31)? Mary was chosen by God to play a unique and important role. What are some things we can learn from this, and in the way she responded?

First, Mary believed. Gabriel told her something that would never be possible without divine intervention, but she never doubted. She knew that when God says something will happen, it will come to pass even if human logic pronounces it impossible. What about us? How strong is our belief in God? Gabriel tells Mary in Luke 1:37, “with God nothing will be impossible.” Do we truly believe this? Many people tend to take things into their own hands instead of turning it over to God. But if we truly believe in the omnipotence of God and trust in Him, we will lay everything at His feet.

She also submitted. Nowhere in Scripture do we ever see her protesting, arguing, or looking for a way out. The Jews took adultery and fornication very seriously, and it is likely that there were people accusing her of being an adulteress when they saw that she was pregnant before marrying Joseph. Did she let this stop her from doing God’s will? No! Luke 1:38 reads, “Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’” What about us? As Christians, we are not our own masters. We belong to Christ. Do we truly live like it? Even when things get tough, do we continue to submit to God?

Finally, Mary rejoiced. Something impossible was going to happen, and there was a good chance that no one would believe her innocence in the matter. How would you react in this kind of situation? Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55 expresses her joy. She rejoiced that she was the one chosen to fulfill a unique role in God’s plan. She rejoiced in His love and how He takes care of His people. What about us? Do we rejoice that we are called by God (2 Thessalonians 2:14)? Do we rejoice that we are His special people (1 Peter 2:9)?

There is so much to learn from Mary. She reminds us to believe, submit, and rejoice, even when things get difficult. She reminds us that there is always light and life in Christ no matter how dark the world around us gets.