The People of Advent, and the People We’re Becoming
A devotional from Emmanuel Chapel, Methodist Church Nigeria, Ikoyi, Lagos.
“Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’”
— Luke 1:38
Mary was not waiting for an announcement. She was living an ordinary life, with ordinary plans, when God interrupted her story. This is often how Advent begins, not with celebration, but with disruption. Mary was young. Engaged. Preparing for a future that made sense to her and to those around her. And then heaven stepped into her routine and placed a calling on her life that would change everything. The angel’s message carried promise, but it also carried uncertainty. Saying ‘yes’ to God would expose her to misunderstanding, questions, and fear.
And yet, Mary listened. She asked honest questions and acknowledged the impossibility of the message she had received. And then she said something remarkable: “Let it be unto me according to your word.” Mary’s yes was not rooted in clarity, it was rooted in faith.
God’s interruptions are often invitations
God did not give Mary a full plan. He did not explain every step or remove every risk. What He gave her was His word and His presence. That feels very familiar to many of us, especially at this time of year. Plans shift suddenly, responsibilities multiply, December expectations arrive unannounced, family needs, financial pressures, and last-minute demands interrupt our carefully laid plans.
Like Mary, we often ask: How will this work? What will people say? Am I really ready for this? Mary teaches us that faith does not wait until everything makes sense. Faith responds to God’s voice, trusting that He will walk with us into what He has spoken.
Emmanuel — God with us, even in uncertainty
Mary’s courage did not come from confidence in herself. It came from confidence in the God who was with her. This is the heart of Emmanuel — God with us. Not God explaining everything, not God removing all discomfort, but God being present, faithful, and near. When Mary said yes, she was not declaring, “I can handle this.” She was declaring, “God is with me.”
And that truth connects deeply with the word we received whilst at church yesterday. In her sermon, Deaconess Abiola Babatope encouraged us to rejoice, reminding us that faith is a liberating force. Faith indeed frees us from fear, anxiety, and the lie that we are alone in our circumstances. She reminded us of this unshakable truth: nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Mary lived that truth. Her situation did not suddenly become easy and the questions did not disappear overnight. But even in uncertainty, Mary discovered something deeper; the joy that comes from God’s presence. Not shallow happiness, not denial, but a settled, sustaining joy rooted in the nearness of God. This is why Mary could later declare: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.” She rejoiced not because everything was clear, but because Emmanuel was with her.
This is the joy the Deaconess spoke about, the joy found in the Lord’s presence. A joy that circumstances cannot steal. A joy that does not depend on how things look. A joy that only Jesus can give. We may not always control what happens around us, but we always have Christ near us. And when Jesus is near, joy is right there.
Three lessons from Mary’s Advent story
1. God often speaks in ordinary moments.
Mary was not in a special service or sacred space. She was living her life. God meets us where we are.
2. Obedience may cost comfort, reputation, or control.
Mary’s yes came with risk. Faith does not deny the cost, but it trusts God beyond it.
3. God’s promise always carries His presence.
Mary was not left alone to figure things out. The God who called her stayed with her.
A Question for Reflection
Where is God inviting you to trust Him this Advent? Is it a decision you’ve delayed? A responsibility you didn’t plan for? A change that feels uncomfortable? A calling that feels bigger than your capacity? Mary reminds us: God does not call us because we are ready. He calls us in love and His presence gives us both courage and joy.
A simple Advent practice
This week, when uncertainty rises, pause and pray: “Lord, I choose to rejoice, because You are with me.”
Then take the next faithful step. not necessarily the whole journey, just the next step. Faith liberates us to move forward with joy, even when the road ahead is still unfolding.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Mary’s courage and willing heart. Thank You for reminding us that faith sets us free, and that nothing can separate us from Your love. Teach us to rejoice, not because everything is settled, but because You are present. Where fear tries to overwhelm us, release joy.
Where uncertainty shakes us, anchor us in Your love. Help us to say yes to You, trusting that You are Emmanuel, God with us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
