Advent StudySample

After finding Jesus in the temple, having amazed the teachers with His answers, Jesus’ response to Mary and Joseph reminds us that people saw a boy, but Jesus was also God. Though they didn’t understand Jesus’ answer, Mary “treasured up all these things” (Luke 2:19).

We can observe a similar heart posture from Mary a few times in the Gospels. Mary found herself favored by God, yet alongside that favor came situations she didn’t quite understand. Still, she chose to take God at His word and trust Him. Because of her faith, she embraced the arrival of Jesus when the angel came to her.

There are moments in my life when I’ve treasured a special day: a wedding, the birth of a child, or a special memory. There have also been moments in my life that bore a spiritual, treasured significance. One such moment was when my faith was tested, my life and dreams turned upside down, and I didn’t understand. In a moment between only God and me, I declared my complete trust in Him no matter what was to come, even when I didn’t understand my circumstances. It is a moment my life and faith have been built upon; a moment I treasure in my heart.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your steadfast love. A love we can trust even when we don’t understand.