In the quiet town of Nazareth, a young woman named Mary received a visit that would change the course of human history. The angel Gabriel appeared to her with a message that filled her with wonder and fear. This Christmas season, the story of Mary reminds us that God often calls His people into His plans through uncertainty, yet He equips them with His grace and power. Pastor Léveillé’s sermon draws us into Mary’s journey of trust, showing how her response mirrors the path every believer must walk when God interrupts our ordinary lives.
God’s favour often feels unsettling at first (vs. 28-29)
Mary was not expecting an angelic visitor. She was a young woman, likely in her early teens, preparing for a simple life as Joseph’s wife in Nazareth. When Gabriel greeted her as “highly favoured,” her first response was not joy but trouble. God’s favour often arrives wrapped in surprise and discomfort. It unsettles our plans, disturbs our comfort, and pushes us beyond what feels safe. The sermon reminds us that grace rarely begins with ease. Sometimes it begins with questions and a sense of being overwhelmed. Yet the very thing that troubles us at first is often the doorway to God’s greatest work.
God’s plan often feels humanly impossible (vs. 30-34)
The angel’s announcement was breathtaking: Mary would bear the Son of God, the eternal King. Yet the plan seemed utterly impossible. Mary was betrothed but not yet married, and she had never been intimate with a man. Her honest question, “How shall this be?” was not unbelief but humility. She recognized her limitations. Throughout Scripture, God’s servants often face moments where the calling feels beyond their ability. Think of Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah, or Abraham and Sarah. The sermon encourages us that when God’s plan stretches us beyond our resources, we are exactly where He wants us. Trust does not require understanding every detail; it simply requires trusting the One who makes the impossible possible.
God’s power is always greater than our limitations (vs. 35-37)
The angel did not ask Mary to make it happen on her own. Instead, he pointed to the Holy Spirit who would overshadow her and perform the miracle. To strengthen her faith, he added the example of Elisabeth, who had conceived in old age. The declaration rings through the ages: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Our weaknesses do not limit God. Our lack of resources does not hinder Him. The Christmas miracle itself is the ultimate proof that divine power triumphs over human impossibility. Whatever burden or calling you face today, remember that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.
God honours surrendered trust (vs. 38)
Mary’s response is one of the most beautiful expressions of surrender in all of Scripture. She did not negotiate, delay, or demand guarantees. She simply placed herself in God’s hands: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” Her trust cost her dearly—reputation, security, family understanding, and more. Yet she chose obedience, believing God’s word was better than her plans. God honoured that surrendered heart. The sermon closes with a challenge: what is God asking you to surrender today? A fear? A plan? A step of obedience? Mary’s example shows that when we yield fully, God receives the glory and we receive the privilege of being part of His redemptive story.
Conclusion
Mary’s journey from trouble to questioning to surrender mirrors the path of every believer who seeks to follow Christ. The Christmas story is not only about the birth of the Saviour; it is also about the faith of those God uses to bring Him into the world. Whatever uncertainty you face, take heart. God’s favour may unsettle you at first, His plans may feel impossible, but His power is always greater, and He honours every heart that says, “Be it unto me according to thy word.” May we, like Mary, trust Him fully and watch Him accomplish the impossible through surrendered lives.
