Reflection and Blessings

By: Cassandra Green

“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Luke 1:45

This is the season that I am reminded, God will always come through. Our expectation doesn’t surpass God; His gift to us, His promise for us, or His voice in our lives. We are impacted daily by His love. This doesn’t mean that life is easy or situations aren’t hard. It just means that we have a God who understands, who sent His son to walk on this earth as a man and go through it.

When I was a little girl this meant so much to me. It meant that when I told God that my day was rough or I didn’t understand something, I knew Jesus understood my feelings. It changed my whole world and how I prayed. Today I’m reminded, that more than promise or purpose, Jesus is simply with me. That’s all I need. That’s all we need. Emmanuel, God with us.

I jumped into Luke to remind myself of the meaning behind today and I found Elizabeth’s jubilant words to Mary (Luke 1:42-45) and Mary’s song of praise, “The Magnificat,” (Luke 1:46-55). These words are resonating in my heart as I sit here and write.

“Mary responded,
’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 generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy,
and he has done great things for me.
He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.
His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel
and remembered to be merciful.
For he made this promise to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.’”

These are beautiful words to meditate on. Mary kept so much to herself. Her journey was full of intimate moments that she held close to her heart. Yet, God gifted us with these words from her. I hold these words close. I reflect on them as I reflect on this year; letting them imprint on my own experience of God’s love and promise, letting them rest and soothe my spirit as I close my eyes on this year and open them, not to 2020, or a promise, or tasks, but on Jesus alone.