“And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, …for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is God’s name…”

I always sit in wonder at Mary’s faith-filled response. Unlike others who are documented as arguing, laughing, questioning, or quaking in their boots at the announcement of their miracle — Mary celebrates with unadulterated joy and immediately, humbly turns the focus on the miracle worker God who was showing up big with a big ask (wonderful, yes — but a life-quakingly big ask).

But… it took me a whole 60 words before I typed “but.” One of my character flaws is I tend to disrupt joy with the “but.” I can’t read even the mighty Magnificat without it creeping in! See, we read scripture and know the end of the story. We know the miracle arrival for all history and humanity. The resurrection, our salvation, the peace indescribable, the Spirit. But Mary had to walk the days in between the joy-filled announcements and the miracles when the miracles weren’t. A miracle would have seemed timely when there were side-glancing neighbors or no room in the Inn or when an insecure lunatic planned murder for all the baby boys in town. I rejoice with Mary in Luke 1, but I think I relate more to the in-betweens further on in the gospel because the in-betweens are tough sometimes. I confess with Mary that God is indeed good, but I always have nagging questions, and this can blur my joy.

So often, God doesn’t seem to show up during the in-between. Lord, give me faith more like Mary who rejoiced without always focusing on the boot about to drop. Help me celebrate wholeheartedly and trust you more completely.
-Nicole Smith