HOPE OF ALL THE EARTH
The Lord's Servant
December 9, 2025
SCRIPTURE
LUKE 1:38
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.
LUKE 1:38
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.
How do you manage in a crisis? When the bottom seems to be falling out of your world, when you feel like your whole life has caught on fire, how do you handle it? Some of us may panic—it's all overwhelming and feels like far, far too much for us to cope. Others may go into business mode and lock out any and all feeling until the crisis has passed.
But some of us may have been blessed to encounter those saints of God who--in the midst of storms and troubles and trials, in the midst of disaster and disappointment, in the midst of crises and catastrophes—remain firmly embedded in a deep, deep peace. They don't ignore the issues; they don't plunge into the river of denial; they don't bury their heads in the sand and hope it all blows over. They face the crises of life in a badly broken world with an unshakeable, immovable peace because they know they can trust God with their cares.
Peace is not blind optimism that things will work out; it's not jamming our eyes shut to block out the messiness of the world. It is certainty that even here and even now, even in all of this brokenness and all of this darkness, God is still present and still working.
We see it in today's scripture with Mary. This teenage girl, confronted suddenly and without warning by one of heaven's messengers-a being of such glory that time and again throughout Scripture, their first greeting had to be, "Do not be afraid!"
Gabriel then told the girl that she would play an important role in salvation history. She would face scandal and suspicion from her neighbours; she would face the uncertainty of a fiancé who may or may not accept her. He told her that the child she would carry was the One for whom her people had yearned for centuries, the Saviour they'd anticipated for longer than anyone could remember. Her child will be the fulfilment of hopes and dreams that had been nurtured for generations. More than that, he wouldn't just be her son, but he would be the Son of God himself.
This was staggering and incredible news. Yet Mary's response was unhesitating, full of the peace that can only come from fully trusting in God.
Are we prepared to trust that the God of peace knows what is best? Are we willing to rest in the promises of Scripture that our days were written in his book before any of them came to be; that he is always working things together for the good of those who love him?
Our heavenly Father can always be relied upon. Even when we face realities that stagger us, that confuse us, and that threaten to terrify us, we can trust in the peace of God that transcends our understanding (see Philippians 4:7).
But some of us may have been blessed to encounter those saints of God who--in the midst of storms and troubles and trials, in the midst of disaster and disappointment, in the midst of crises and catastrophes—remain firmly embedded in a deep, deep peace. They don't ignore the issues; they don't plunge into the river of denial; they don't bury their heads in the sand and hope it all blows over. They face the crises of life in a badly broken world with an unshakeable, immovable peace because they know they can trust God with their cares.
Peace is not blind optimism that things will work out; it's not jamming our eyes shut to block out the messiness of the world. It is certainty that even here and even now, even in all of this brokenness and all of this darkness, God is still present and still working.
We see it in today's scripture with Mary. This teenage girl, confronted suddenly and without warning by one of heaven's messengers-a being of such glory that time and again throughout Scripture, their first greeting had to be, "Do not be afraid!"
Gabriel then told the girl that she would play an important role in salvation history. She would face scandal and suspicion from her neighbours; she would face the uncertainty of a fiancé who may or may not accept her. He told her that the child she would carry was the One for whom her people had yearned for centuries, the Saviour they'd anticipated for longer than anyone could remember. Her child will be the fulfilment of hopes and dreams that had been nurtured for generations. More than that, he wouldn't just be her son, but he would be the Son of God himself.
This was staggering and incredible news. Yet Mary's response was unhesitating, full of the peace that can only come from fully trusting in God.
Are we prepared to trust that the God of peace knows what is best? Are we willing to rest in the promises of Scripture that our days were written in his book before any of them came to be; that he is always working things together for the good of those who love him?
Our heavenly Father can always be relied upon. Even when we face realities that stagger us, that confuse us, and that threaten to terrify us, we can trust in the peace of God that transcends our understanding (see Philippians 4:7).
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION OR DISCUSSION
What's your crisis MO? How do you respond to frightening/troubling/unsettling situations? Do you panic and become useless, or do you turn off all emotion and do what needs to get done and only allow yourself to tall apart later, when the situation is resolved? Or something else?
Why do you think Mary was able to respond to Gabriel's message with such calm obedience?
What does it mean for you to experience peace in the midst of chaos?
What's your crisis MO? How do you respond to frightening/troubling/unsettling situations? Do you panic and become useless, or do you turn off all emotion and do what needs to get done and only allow yourself to tall apart later, when the situation is resolved? Or something else?
Why do you think Mary was able to respond to Gabriel's message with such calm obedience?
What does it mean for you to experience peace in the midst of chaos?
PRAYER
Write a prayer asking God to bathe you in peace.
Write a prayer asking God to bathe you in peace.