“What will they think?”

“How am I going to explain this to Joseph?”

“What will I look like on my wedding day?”

“How will my parents react?’

“Why did He pick me?”

These are just some of the thoughts that would run through my head at a mile a minute if I were Mary, the mother of Jesus. I mean, picture this: You’re at home, planning your wedding to Joseph, daydreaming about the future as a Mrs., and an angel shows up and tells you that although you are an unwed virgin, you will give birth to the Son of God. I’m not too confident that my response would be: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And yet that was Mary’s exact response. (Check out Luke 1:38!)

Our word of the month, heaviness, seems like a strange word to associate with Mary. It’s an icky feeling. It’s a pit in your stomach, creeps up and kicks you from behind, stubborn pest. How can these two even relate?

There was a time in my life when I was feeling pretty heavy, and God directed me to study Mary. I was knee-deep in wedding planning, venting to God about it all, and He lovingly reminded me that if anyone had a lot going on during their engagement season, it was Mary! 

Heaviness intended to be Mary’s wedding crasher, but Mary refused to pick up its burden.

If Mary ever had thoughts of doubt, if Mary thought for a second that this task was too big, if she ever considered that maybe God chose the wrong girl, she didn’t let those thoughts reach her lips. Mary had a job to do for the Kingdom and no burden of heaviness was going to slow her down.

How did Mary not let her heart be troubled? How did she stay fixated on the promise, rather than the potential problems? In studying Mary, we discover three key things:

1. Mary praised God 

Rather than focusing on her capabilities or lack thereof, Mary focused on how great God is. She sang praises to God recorded in Luke chapter 1: “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord! How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For He took notice of His lowly servant girl, and from now on all the generations will call me blessed. The Mighty One has worked miracles for me; Holy is His name!” (Luke 1:47-49).

2. Mary surrounded herself with the right people 

I love Mary and Elizabeth’s relationship in the Bible. Luke writes that Mary “hurried to the hill country of Judea” to see Elizabeth after the angel visited her. And what did Elizabeth do when Mary got there? She filled Mary with encouragement! The Passion Translation reads that Elizabeth “with a loud voice prophesied with power: ‘Mary! You are a woman given the highest favor and privilege above others. For your child is destined to bring God great delight!’” (Luke 1:42). The book of Luke even goes on to say that Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months after this meeting. Mary knew to surround herself with faith-filled people!

3. Mary meditated on God’s faithfulness

When Mary is gazing at baby Jesus in His manger and listening to the shepherds marvel at Him, the Bible says: “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). Another translation reads, “Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.” Mary chose not only to focus on the goodness of God, but to meditate on it over and over again. She stored testimonies in her heart, and I believe those constant reminders propelled Mary to complete all God called her to do.

Just because the feeling of heaviness is there, doesn’t mean it is ours to bear. In fact, Jesus bore it on the cross 2,000 years ago so we wouldn’t have to. And, knowing we would try to bear it anyway, He gave us instructions on what to do with it in Matthew 11:28-30:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Put My yoke upon your shoulders—it might appear heavy at first, but it is perfectly fitted to your curves. Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. When you are yoked to Me, your weary souls will find rest. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (The Voice Translation).

Mary’s assignment may have seemed too heavy for a teenage girl, but it was perfectly fitted for her! She stayed close to God and found rest and assurance in Him. She chose His easy and light yoke over the daunting burden of heaviness. So take comfort in this and refuse to let heaviness build a home in your heart. Hold tight to the promises of God and remember— just as the angel told Mary so many years ago— “no word from God will ever fail” (Luke 1:37).

Posted on 3/15/2022