Favored Yet Going Through Trials

You would think that “being highly favored” would mean that everything would go well with Mary, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

It was one trial after another. You can read in the Gospel of Luke the account of all that Mary went through before and during the birth of Jesus.

So it is with each of us, our trials are not an indication of whether we are favored by God or not. And sometimes the hardest trials are those that affect people that we love. In Luke 2:34-35 while in the temple for the time of purification, Simeon gives Mary a word,

“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul.”

Major bitterness could have set in Mary’s heart after hearing that a sword, a bitter cup, a trial was coming that would pierce her heart. She had experienced a lot of disappointment since she said yes to God’s will, and now these painful words were spoken to her through the mouth of a prophet.

Her heart was going to be attacked, her child was going to be misunderstood and rejected. But Mary didn’t become bitter, the Bible says in Luke 2:51 that Mary “treasured all these things in her heart!” Because of the condition of her heart, Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (v. 52).

Copyright © 2017 by Maria Durso, All Rights Reserved. Purchase a copy of my new book, From Your Head to Your Heart Bible Study Guide, on Amazon here.