Motherhood & God’s Faithfulness During Christmas

This past week, I found myself reflecting on the opening chapter of Luke’s Gospel, where the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and says, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). Luke tells us that Mary was perplexed and afraid by this greeting. Sensing her fear, Gabriel went on to explain what God was about to do:

“Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:30–33).

Mary’s response reveals both her honesty and her humility. She asks how such a thing could be possible, since she was a virgin. Gabriel answers that the Holy Spirit would accomplish what no human effort ever could, reminding her that “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Mary’s final words are simple and profound: “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

The fact that God chose Mary to play a role in His redemptive plan tells us much about who God is and how He works, especially in the lives of women and mothers. Mary’s story does not exalt her above Christ, but it does point us to the character of the God who graciously calls ordinary people to serve His extraordinary purposes.

First, Mary was an unlikely choice. She did not come from a prominent family. She held no position of influence or distinction. Other than her virginity, Scripture gives us no outwardly remarkable qualities that would make her seem fit to be the mother of our holy Savior. Yet God chose her. Not because she was impressive by human standards, but because He knew her heart would respond in humble submission to His will.

In many ways, this mirrors how God works in the lives of mothers today. Most of us do not feel qualified for the calling God has given us. I certainly did not. I did not grow up in a Christian home, and I had no training in how to be a godly wife or mother. Yet by God’s grace, through His Word and the work of the Holy Spirit, He has given me everything I need to walk faithfully in those roles. Perhaps you feel like an unlikely choice or unfit for the task before you. Scripture reminds us that God does not call the qualified. He qualifies those He calls. The question is not whether we are enough, but whether we will submit to Him and depend on His grace.

Second, Mary was unprepared. One moment she was living an ordinary life as a young woman engaged to be married. The next, she was told she would carry the promised Messiah. The weight of that calling is almost unimaginable. Even the most capable woman would have felt overwhelmed by such news.

Yet God did not ask Mary to be strong in herself. He invited her to trust Him. Her response, “May it be done to me according to your word,” reflects not confidence in her abilities, but confidence in God’s faithfulness.

Motherhood often feels the same way, especially during the Christmas season. The pressure increases, expectations rise, and comparison can quietly creep in. We measure ourselves against other mothers who seem to create perfect traditions, flawless memories, and magical moments. But Mary was never called to be a perfect mother to a perfect Savior. She was called to trust the Lord who had chosen her. God does not ask us to be “super moms.” He calls us to be dependent servants who rely on Him day by day.

Third, Mary was initially uncelebrated. Before Joseph received clarity from the Lord, he planned to quietly put her away. In a culture where an unwed pregnancy carried deep shame, Mary likely faced misunderstanding, suspicion, and isolation. On one hand, she had received the greatest news in human history. On the other, she bore the weight of social disgrace.

Still, Mary trusted the God who knew the truth. In time, the reality of what God had done became clear. Until then, she faithfully walked in obedience, even when her obedience went unseen.

This is one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood. Much of what we do is unnoticed. Our sacrifices are quiet. Our faithfulness often goes unacknowledged. But like Mary, we are not called to serve for recognition or applause. We serve because the Most High has entrusted us with a sacred calling. God sees what others do not, and He is never unjust to forget faithful obedience.

My prayer this Christmas is that we would remember both the grace of God in giving us the high calling of motherhood and the sufficiency we have in Christ to walk it out. Through Him, we have everything we need. And like Mary’s humble submission to God’s message through the angel Gabriel, may our hearts echo the words, “May it be done to me according to your word.”