Overlooking the Opportunities to Grow in Holiness at Our Feet
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The Annunciation - Luke 1: 26-38
Every inspiration, invitation, or new stage in life is an Annunciation moment. It promises to make sweeping changes to our lives. It can be an opportunity to grow closer to Christ, depending on how we handle it, or lead us further from Him.
This moment could be something very positive for you. Maybe it’s an exciting opportunity to live out a dream or go somewhere new. Maybe it’s a new job or a new role you’re accepting.
It could also come disguised as something you find negative. Maybe you’re being asked to take responsibility for a person or a problem you didn’t create and didn’t want in your life. Maybe you’re being sent somewhere you never wanted to go or are being asked to do something you don’t like doing.
This moment may be calling you to step off a path you were sure you were meant to be following. It may be interrupting your plans or it could be changing your direction.
You may wonder if you have what it takes and can handle the moment. You may doubt that this is coming from God – and that’s a fair, and important, question to answer.
Regardless of how the situation comes, the Annunciation can help you get through this moment in a way that’s pleasing to God if you leverage it appropriately.
Before deciding how to handle the Annunciation moments of life, it’s important to engage in discernment. We learn a lot about how to do that from observing what Mary did in the moment the Angel Gabriel came to her to inform her she would become the mother of God.
Scripture warns us to test every spirit because satan himself often masquerades as an angel of light in order to trick deceivers and lead them astray. So that’s the first test: Is this inspiration, invitation, or new direction in alignment with what you know to be God’s will for your life?
If it doesn’t seem to be in clear alignment, ask questions until that alignment becomes evident. That’s why Mary, having made a vow of perpetual virginity, was quick to question how it would be that she would become pregnant without knowing man. She knew God would never ask her to forsake her solemn vow to Him.
We know what happened to Eve when she said “No” to God’s will. Saying a flat “no” to God’s will is never going to bring us to a good place in life.
We learn from Moses, though, that a conditional “yes” always leads to trouble. Aaron speaking before Pharao didn’t have the same impact that Moses speaking would have because nobody in court knew Aaron. They knew Moses and they knew about his stuttering problem. Moses let Aaron do the talking for him and this led to a lot of problems for the Children of Israel later down the road.
Trust that even if God seems to be taking you in the complete opposite direction of your own dreams, desires, and goals – He’s rerouting you around detours, obstacles, and pitfalls that would destroy your hopes otherwise. His way is ALWAYS the fastest route to your heart’s desire.
And, if the giants that stand in the path where He’s directing you to go seem too big for you, know that God is bigger still. He’ll handle them all for you. You just need to place your trust in Him so you don’t miss out on the promised land that he’s trying to give you.
Mary didn’t hang around Nazareth after the angel’s visit. She set out to carry the message to Elizabeth, putting the information Archangel Gabriel gave to her to use.
Delays often lead to us rethinking things and changing our mind. Immediate action shows trust and commitment.
The Tougher the Assignment, the Greater the Reward
Whatever it is you’re being called to do, especially if you know it’s from God, the more graces you can trust that God will give you to handle things. Just don’t forget to call on Him.
People often tell you that God won’t give you crosses that are bigger than you can bear, but that isn’t true. What is true is that He’ll never give you a cross bigger than you can handle with His help. So, lean on Him. Let Him lead you through.
And, above all – do whatever He tells you to do.
Award-winning international speaker and author, Brandy M. Miller is a Catholic revert. Raised in a culturally Catholic home, she left the faith at 16 in search of the truth and returned 12 years later when she found it right where she left it. Today, she is convinced that the Catholic Church is the cure to society's ills and is eager to help share the Gospel truth to those who have ears to hear it. When she isn't writing for or about the Catholic Church, she offers her writing talents to Catholics who would like help sharing their witnesses of Christ's work in their lives.
