Anxiety to Adoration!
December 7, 2025
Scripture: Luke 1:26-47
There so many people who can be described like the Missouri farmer describes his mule: “Awfully backward about going forward."
Sometimes, it is extremely hard to move forward in life. Often the past, one’s expectations, the expectations of others, fear, negative thinking, and the lack of vision can emotionally cripple us. Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been regarded as one of the godliest people in history. But she was also human, subject to the same fear, anxiety, and doubts that we have. Today, I want to note several key principles from Luke 1:26-56 to help us move forward in life.
In Luke 1:26-38, we have the story of the angel, Gabriel, appearing to the teenager Mary. The angel told Mary that she had found favor with God. The Lord is with you (v. 28).
Verses 29, 30 notes that Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
Please note the angel again reassured her that she had found favor with God. Yet, why did she find favor with God outside of God’s grace and mercy? One reason is because of her humbleness before the Lord. In verse 48, Mary says, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. Then verses 51b, 52 states, he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
Scripture repeatedly notes the Lord blesses the humble. For instance, James 4:10 states, Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Mary also had a fear of the Lord. Verse 50 states, His mercy extends to those who fear him. Of course, having a fear, reverence, for the Lord is critical in finding the Lord’s favor. Proverbs 1:7 states, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Ecclesiastes 12:13 states, Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all humankind. I like Proverbs 19:23 which says, The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Mary also had a hunger for the Lord as verse 53 states, He has filled the hungry with good things. I think of Matthew 5:6, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
I also pick up from the text that Mary had a knowledge of God’s word. I say that because she echoes several Old Testament Scriptures (Luke 1:46; Psalm 34:2, 3). I have no doubt that Mary delighted in the Scriptures and sought the Lord with all her heart (Note: Psalm 119:9-16).
Principle 1: You will find favor from the Lord and He will help you overcome the trials of life as you have a humble heart, have a fear of the Lord, hunger for the Lord and let His word dwell in you richly!
The angel Gabriel in verses 31 and following tells Mary, You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.
Verse 34, Mary questions how this will happen since she is a virgin.
The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.
After Gabriel explained to Mary what was going to happen, Mary accepted the call as she said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Mary went from being greatly troubled to acceptance. Mary wanted to serve the Lord and His word, His will to be fulfilled!
Principle 2: Overcome your fear, your anxiety, the unknown, by accepting, trusting in the Lord, and committing to do His will!
This is what Jesus did in the garden the night he was arrested. He was anxious about taking on the sins of humankind. Luke 22:42-44 states, Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Jesus was in anguish. Matthew 26:38, 39 notes that he was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Jesus trusted and was committed to do His Father’s will. Then after His resurrection, there was great rejoicing!
Even when things don’t work out the way we expect, we must continue to trust in the Lord and come to accept the various trials as God’s will to mold us into His character. It is then we can say as James 1:2-4 states, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
As the fears, the troubles of life come, then we have the choice to take the step of faith, a step of trust, accept God’s will for our lives. As we accept and trust, we say consciously or unconsciously, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your will be done, not mine.”
This is the journey many of us must take. Now let me note this. Accepting and trusting can be a huge step in various decisions. You will probably struggle emotionally, dealing with various feelings or struggles. You will also struggle intellectually and spiritually. The natural tendency is to desperately want control of your life.
For instance, the Lord told Jonah to go preach at Ninevah. He ran. We also have a natural tendency to run from doing what God desires. I have seen this within myself over the years. Even if you do what He says, like Jonah his heart wasn’t in it. There tends to be a difficulty in saying to God and to ourselves, I am the Lord’s servant. May your word be fulfilled! Your will be done!
I encourage you to recognize as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are His servant! Have the desire, the commitment to do His will!
Then we read in Luke 1:39, 40 that Mary hurried off to see Elizabeth. Now I tend to think Mary still had some anxiety and concerns. Remember she was only engaged to Joseph. This news was going to deeply hurt the people she loved the most. Can you imagine Mary trying to explain to her parents and Joseph an angel coming to her and saying that she was going to become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and the baby was to be the Son of the Most High? Her fiancé would have no reason to believe her story. Her parents would be emotionally crushed. I suspect that most people would probably not believe her. She would be an outcast or possibly be even stoned to death. As a result, Mary was experiencing anxiety.
Since the angel told Mary about Elizabeth, she went to see her. Scripture says in Luke 1:39-45, At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
There was a supernatural connection between the two women, both of whom were miraculously pregnant. This visit with Elizabeth put everything into focus for Mary. Her anxiety disappeared as she received confirmation of the angel’s incredible message. Her doubts were erased as she confirmed it was God’s will. As a result, she promptly gave praise as verses 46, 47 states, My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! Mary had peace and joy.
Principle 3: If necessary, if having anxiety, feeling troubled, then seek confirmation of God’s will!!!
Every day, we face choices that shape our lives. Knowing how to discern God’s will can often feel overwhelming, especially when the paths ahead seem unclear. Yet, understanding how to know God’s will for your life can bring clarity and peace amidst uncertainty. Whether you are deciding about your career, a relationship, or personal growth, recognizing the signs of divine direction can lead you to make a wise, meaningful decision.
So how can we confirm God’s will? Let me give you several important principles.
1. Measure every decision against the word of God!
God will never ask you to do something that contradicts His word. Start your process by searching the word of God and if possible, study the topic that’s most closely related to the decision that you must make. Biblical principles serve as a compass, guiding you through life’s complexities.
Psalms 119:105 states, Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
2. Seek the Lord! Pray for wisdom and direction! Spend time in prayer until your emotions align with God’s will.
It’s amazing how much God will reveal to us if we’ll just take the time to get in His presence and pray. Jeremiah 29:13 says, You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. God promises that if we seek Him, we will find Him. When you pray, get real with God. I encourage you to talk to Him about all of your hopes and fears surrounding the decision that you have to make.
Proverbs 16:3 states, Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
When you seek God in prayer, your heart becomes aligned with His.
James 1:5 says, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally.
Through prayer you surrender pride, confess sin, and commit your plans to the Lord. Prayer helps us to clear the mental fog, allowing one to align with God’s will. This is what Jesus did in the garden.
3. Seek wise counsel!
God often guides His people through wise believers who walk with Him and know Scripture well. No one is meant to live the Christian life alone. The wisdom of others helps you avoid blind spots and emotional decisions.
Proverbs 11:14 states, In the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Proverbs 15:22 says, Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
I encourage you to be transparent and ask people you know and trust for feedback on the decision you have to make.
4. Learn from your past!
It’s important to reflect and learn from past experiences. Then apply God’s guidance as you move forward.
5. Look for signs in your everyday circumstances!
Be attentive to the circumstantial confirmations around you. You should watch carefully for God’s hand at work. A believer who walks closely with God will be able to discern when circumstances point toward or away from a certain choice. One major principle from Henry Blackaby’s book, Experiencing God is: See how God is working and join Him!
6. Look for the presence of fear in the process. Pastor Travis Hall notes this in his blog entitled, How to Discern God’s Will When You’re Making an Important Decision. He notes that the presence of fear actually serves as a means of confirming God’s will. According to the Bible fear is an evil spirit. II Timothy 1:7 states, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. So, when this spirit of fear shows up in your life you need to ask the question “Why?” What’s fear so afraid of that this spirit is trying to intimidate me and influence my decision-making. So, when you run into fear it very well might be a sign that you are headed in the right direction.
7. Know and apply your God given desires. God often guides you by placing godly desires within your heart. When you delight in Him, He shapes your affections to match His purpose. Psalm 37:4 states, Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. This does not mean He promises to fulfill fleshly desires.
8. Consider what would bring the Lord the most glory!
Every decision must be filtered through one question. Will this bring glory to God? If a choice leads you toward sin, compromise, or spiritual decline, it cannot be God’s will. I Corinthians 10:31 states, So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Knowing God’s will is not about receiving a mystical sign or a sudden voice from heaven. It is the result of walking closely with the Lord each day. It is following Scripture, praying for wisdom, seeking wise counsel, learning from the past, observing God working, feeling fear in your decision making, knowing, and applying God given desires, and pursuing God’s glory!
Please take to heart God desires to guide you more than you desire to be guided. His will is good, acceptable, and perfect. And when you commit your way to Him, He will faithfully direct your steps. As Proverbs 3:5, 6 states, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. At the end of the day remember to walk by faith, not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7).
Mary, after being greeted by Elizabeth, had a new perspective! Elizabeth’s circumstances and words confirmed to Mary that it was God’s will to supernaturally give birth to the Messiah. After receiving confirmation, Mary broke out in praise, worship, and adoration. Luke 1:46, 47 states, And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
Her anxiety disappeared! She had peace and joy! This is what happens when we wholeheartedly conclude God’s will in deciding. Now some people will give the advice in trying to discern the will of God is to follow the peace. No! Think what would had happened if Jesus in sweating drops of blood and asking the Father for another way would have followed his desire give up, to pursue the effortless way out. I am thankful Jesus didn’t follow the easy way out.
Listen, I learned in seminary after making a wholehearted decision desiring God’s will, the peace will follow! When one finally wholeheartedly, mentally, emotionally, spiritually makes the decision to do God’s there will be an inner joy, a contentment, and praise.
Principle 4: Do God’s will and you will have a peace and a joy, and it will prompt thanksgiving and adoration!
Next week, we will continue to look at Mary’s Song of Praise (Luke 1:46-55).
Let me close with this story from the book, The Manger is Empty, by Walter Wangerin Jr. Walter shares a Christmas memory from when he was 10. The year was 1944. Walter's father did the same thing he always did at Christmastime: he went into a room in the house, removed the outside doorknob so the kids couldn't get in, and he decorated a Christmas tree and stacked presents all around it.
As their father continued the great tradition, the Wangerin kids did the same thing they always did at Christmastime: they stood outside the door, dreaming about what awaited them coming Christmas morning. That is, every child except Walter.
Walter writes: "I had that very year become an adult: silent, solemn, watchful, and infinitely cautious." Why? The Christmas before, Walter had watched a rather traumatic moment unfold. Walter's brother, Paul, had burst into tears. Paul's deep sadness left an indelible mark on Walter, who wrote: "I was horrified that pain could invade the holy ceremony. And I was angry that my father had not protected my brother from tears." Walter adds: "Besides—what if you hope and it doesn't happen? It's treacherous to hope. The harder you hope, the more vulnerable you become." With all of that in mind, Walter decided he was not going to make himself vulnerable like before. He was not going to hope. He was not going to be caught off guard by whatever might happen when his father opened the door on Christmas Eve.
When the time had finally come for the tradition to meet its climax, Walter stood beside his anxious brothers and sisters—the only one with a frown. Walter's father opened the door to the room, and all the Wangerin kids ran in, gasping and giggling over what they saw. That is, every child except Walter.
Walter stood in the doorway, gazing at the tree and the piles of presents. Then he turned to look at his father who stood there waiting. What he saw caused Walter to have an emotional outburst of his own, that Christmas Eve—one that was quite unlike Paul's from the year before. Walter writes: There … was my father, standing center in the room and gazing straight at me. … And this is the wonder fixed in my memory: that the man himself was filled with a yearning, painful expectation—on account of me.
Everything else in this room was just as it had been the year before, and the year before that. But this was new. This thing I had never seen before: that my father, too, had had to trust the promises against their disappointments. So said his steady eyes on me. But among the promises to which my father had committed his soul, his hope, and his faith, the most important one was this: that his eldest son should soften and be glad.
He gazed at me, waiting, waiting, for me, waiting for his Christmas to be received by his son and returned to him again.
And I began to cry. O my father! Silently, merely spilling tears and staring straight back at him, defenseless because there was no need for defenses. I cried—glad and unashamed. Because what was this room, for so long locked, which I was entering? Why, it was my own heart. And why had I been afraid? Because I thought I'd find it empty, a hard unfeeling thing.
But there, in the room, was my father. And there, in my father, was the love that had furnished this room, preparing it for us no differently than he had prepared it last year, yet trusting and yearning, desiring our joy.
And what else could such a love be, but my Jesus drawing near?
Look, then, what I have found in my father's room, in my heart after all: the dearest Lord Jesus, hold child—
The nativity of our Lord.
I sobbed as if I were two. And my father moved from the middle of the room and walked toward me, still empty-handed; but he spread his hands and gathered me to himself. And I put my arms around him. And so, we, both of us, were full. (Walter Wangerin Jr. The Manger Is Empty (Harper San Francisco, 1989), pp. 57-66).
Oh, how our Heavenly Father yearns for us to trust Him, to put our faith in Him, wanting for each of us to receive and to experience His love, to let go of the fear of finding something empty, and to be filled with His love!
