Children’s plays and movies paint a pretty picture, but the truth is Mary was surely criticized, spurned, and likely threatened with death by her own loved ones. Very few people understood the magnitude of what Mary carried. In their shame and honor culture, Mary was doomed for a life of disgrace.
Though she had received God’s promise in humility, I wonder how many mornings she woke up, questioning His plan, in turmoil. Yet Luke, the physician, tells us that she praised God with this song: “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, For he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; For he who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is his name.’” (Luke 1:46-49, ESV) In this beautiful, moving song of praise, my mind fixates on verse 48: “...from now on all generations will call me blessed…” Blessed, Mary? How could any person in her situation utter such a bold statement? The Greek word used here is rich, meaning supremely blessed— beautified, esteemed, favored, fortunate, counted happy. Mary had every reason to feel anything other than “favored” in that moment. The blessing that she carried surely felt more like a burden. It is imperative that we stop and take time to contemplate her response because… Like Mary, many of us have been asked to birth something big into the world. Like Mary, others may not understand the magnitude of what we carry. Like Mary, at times our blessing may feel more like a burden. So then, how can we cry out, with Mary, “My soul magnifies the Lord…” while we are criticized by those who once walked with us? How can we declare, “I am blessed!” on the desolate road to Bethlehem? How can we magnify the Lord when no one makes room for us? How can our life-breath rejoice even as pain threatens its very existence? God’s presence, living in us. This is how. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do that which we cannot do in our own power. The Holy Spirit helps us trust God’s character, even if we can’t understand His ways. The Holy Spirit helps us remember God’s promises, and cling to what He has said. The Holy Spirit helps us set our hearts on the harvest while we walk through the winter. You see, there is no space for self-pity in God’s Kingdom. Every hard thing God has asked us to carry He gives abundant grace for… all He asks for is our surrender. If what you have been asked to carry in this season seems too great to bear, it is because it is. Whether it’s parenting, marriage, ministry, a health or financial crisis. If you are fighting for joy right now, God is calling you to return to a posture of complete dependence. Mary could not have endured the life she did without the empowering of the Holy Spirit. You and I can’t either. Rejoice in your shortcomings today; rejoice in our all-sufficient Savior.
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Not as an autonomous grown-up.
Not as a commanding military leader. Not as an unapproachable deity. But as a fragile baby. Utterly and completely dependent on human beings to care for Him. Imagine being the God of glory, and going from being worshiped by angels 24/7 and supremely self-sufficient, to this. Not only that but imagine learning how to walk and talk when you spoke the earth into existence. Imagine submitting to sinful parents when you, yourself, are the embodiment of perfection. Imagine being misunderstood, maligned, and mistreated by those who should have been the first to perceive and embrace you. Imagine having the power to bypass not only the most excruciating death on earth, but the even-worse consequences of taking on the sin of the world: shame and separation. Jesus did all of this. This Christmas, I am struck by the beauty of the humility of Christ. He stooped low “…for the joy set before him…” (Heb. 12:2) What joy? The joy of “It is finished.” The joy of complete restoration. The joy of you and I, delighting in the infinite glory of His goodness. As we transition into the throes of this holiday season, may we set our sights on this joy, and may our hearts overflow with praises to our God of glory.
I wonder if Lot asked the same way as he walked away from smoldering Sodom. I wonder if he reflected on the events that had left him wife-less and homeless. How did this nephew of Abram (who had been rescued once before, by the way) end up in this situation where he barely escaped utter destruction? If we look closely at Lot’s journey, we can see a progression: He encamped near Sodom (Gen 13:10-13). He lived in Sodom (Gen 14:12). He became a leader of Sodom (Gen 19:1). I would wager that Lot wished he could go back and reverse his choice to live near the infamously wicked city of Sodom. At the time Lot had reasoned his decision— anyone in their right mind would choose a lush, well-watered plain over one that is rocky and arid. If I look closely at my own journey, I recognize a similar pattern... Read the full devotional at www.rootedmoms.com.
We had all the energy in the world in those days. We spent hours body surfing, floating, and fighting the current until we were completely spent and insatiably hungry. After lunch, we’d beg our parents to take us to the community pool— that was where the real fun was to be had. The water was clear and current-less. We played games, performed jumping contests, and practiced our handstands. Oh, to be young again. Here’s one thing I know to be true: life is more like an ocean and less like a pool— especially when it comes to our faith. This isn’t new news, though. It’s exactly what the author of Hebrews cautioned nearly 2,000 years ago... Read the full devotional at www.rootedmoms.com.
I feel like Jesus was a plant person, also. Countless times he used vivid gardening illustrations in His parables to explain the Kingdom of God to His followers. With these teachings in mind, nature becomes a constant visual of the Gospel. Every time I look out the window or walk down the road, God’s creation reminds me of who He is, and Who I am in Him. Jesus’ vegetation verbiage was passed down and perpetuated by the early church apostles. I love how Paul exhorts the church at Colossae. In his letter to them he says, “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Colossians 2:6-7, CSB) When I read the words “rooted and built up... established,” my mind immediately goes to the forest behind my house. Unlike the succulents in my office that could easily be plucked from their soil, our Georgia pines can withstand the fiercest storms. They bend, but rarely break. Their roots go deep, and they draw nourishment from the soil. While my indoor plants need routine attention, I’ve never had to go out and water the towering trees in my yard. Friend, this is what God desires of us... Read the full devotional at www.rootedmoms.com.
There, in bright pinks, yellows, and purples were all her princess costumes, worn and tattered from years of love. At that moment I was faced with the reality that I hadn’t seen her wear one in a while... a long while. Another milestone had passed without me even recognizing it: my girl had exchanged her pretend dresses and jewelry for the real ones. If I’m honest, I haven’t completely quit playing dress-up... I put on a sheer covering of joy, in an attempt to hide the depression underneath. I smear superficial admiration on my lips to hide my secret jealousy. I don too-tight shoes I was never meant to fill to boast my capacity. I try so hard to be the princess I feel like God wants me to be. I don’t think I’m the only one who struggles in this area. Do you, too, feel like an imposter sometimes? Read the full devotional at www.rootedmoms.com
![]() My husband and I locked eyes, as our children’s arguing escalated in the backseat. They were at it again... Comparing. Contrasting. Complaining. I’m not sure if your kids have reached this particular stage of childhood, where everything becomes a contest. There are a lot of delightful things about watching your babies become more self-aware and independent— but the perpetual rat race isn’t one of them. My children look at each others’ different personalities, gifts, and passions and see them as a threat. I look at my three children’s different personalities, strengths and passions and see them as an advantage. Oh, how I wish they could see themselves the way that I see them. Oh, how I wish they could yet grasp that they were each handcrafted by God (Ps. 139:14) to fulfill a specific purpose. I imagine the Apostle Paul shared the same sentiment, as he wrote to the Corinthian church. Still (spiritually) young and immature, the believers struggled with comparison. To paint a mental picture for them, Paul likens the church to a body where Christ is the head and each believer a part: head, shoulders, knees, and toes... Read the full devotional at www.rootedmoms.com
There are principles in God’s Kingdom. They are rules that dictate how life in the Kingdom operates. Think of a mathematical rule: a2 + b2 = c2 It works. Every single time. Not all that into math? Me either. Here’s a life rule for example: If we eat more calories than we burn, we gain weight. Vice versa, if we eat less calories than we burn, we lose weight. Make sense? One Kingdom principle Jesus taught is this: When we put the Kingdom of God first, He takes care of all our needs (Matt. 6:31-33). Like the pythagorean theorem, I don’t have to understand how it works to know that it just works. (Praise Jesus for that!) There’s another Kingdom principle I’ve been mulling over for quite some time now: When we are rooted in trust in the Lord (not in ourselves), our lives will never fail to bear fruit. Fruit is what others "taste" and experience God’s goodness. Jesus made it very clear: the Father is looking for fruit. In fact, it was for this very reason that He chose us (Jn. 15). But the fruit production is not our part— it's His. Our job is to stay rooted in Him. Jeremiah 17 (one of my favorite chapters in the whole Bible) says, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jer. 17:7-8, emphasis added). I used to read that last line of Jeremiah 17 and take it to mean that if I’m truly rooted in Christ, I should always be producing. Maybe you’ve felt that way too. We (people) are really good at adding demands on ourselves that God never really asked for. (Just take the Pharisees for example.) One day, on a walk to the nearby lake, I was lamenting to God about how fruitless I felt during that time, and the guilt I carried because of it. As I walked and prayed, I gazed at the towering trees. It was winter; they were barren. Or at least they looked barren. Inside I knew there was life getting ready to burst forth in due time. It was then I realized, with the Holy Spirit’s help, the error of my mindset. He connected a natural principle with a Kingdom principle to reveal a truth I almost missed: Trees don’t bear fruit in every season. But they do bear fruit in their season. "Trees don't bear fruit in every season. |
As a veteran mom, I’m a natural beholder. I imagine you are too. We behold the kitchen sink, overflowing with dirty dishes. We behold the baby, ripe for a diaper change. We behold the school forms, awaiting our initials. We behold all the people, projects, and problems demanding our attention— then get busy, working to fix them. |
Suddenly, in chapter 40, the tone changes drastically from chastisement to comfort. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins,” God tells Isaiah (vs. 2).
While these prophecies had not been fulfilled just yet, God was letting them know even their great wickedness could not deter His greater compassion— a Savior was coming for them.
After His declaration of hope, God tells the prophet, “Say unto the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’” (Is 40:9 NKJV)
It’s such a short and simple declaration, it’s easy to miss all together. God is telling His people to shift their focus from themselves, back onto Him...
A little about me...
Hi, I'm Katie!
Wife to Craig, mom of three, author, writer, Rooted Moms founder, Jesus-follower, Bible teacher, and coffee enthusiast.
Follow me as I follow Christ and share my heart throughout the journey.
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