Does this feel like a different Christmas season this year? Are you missing a loved one? Are you in dire circumstances? Are you misunderstood? Are you uncertain of the future? Are you praying for help? In seasons of joy or seasons of pain, in seasons of uncertainty or seasons of anxiousness--I want to have the strength to say, "Yes, Lord." And I know you do, too.

Two women in the Bible, separated by many generations, each in a desperate situation, cry out from the depths of their soul ... and begin their cry with praise. What was it that each of these women knew to be true in the midst of such desperate times that their separate prayers are similar in their strength and depth of wisdom? They must have known their God to be trustworthy and faithful. I mean, really knew Him in order to be able to rejoice in the midst of their unsettling life stories.  

Who am I talking about? Hannah, the mother of Samuel, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Two completely different anxious circumstances ... same faith-filled response.

As you read through the Christmas story in Matthew Chapter 1 and in Luke Chapter 1, you will find Mary in a place of uncertainty; people may have misunderstood and even rejected her. And although Mary herself didn't understand the full reality of what was happening, she must have had a close relationship with her God to be able to quickly respond, "Be it unto me according to your Word." When Mary was with her cousin Elizabeth, what emerged from Mary was not anxiety or complaint, but this beautiful prayer recorded in Luke 1:46-55:  

"My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:

for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm" (... Read more)

This prayer is very similar to Hannah's prayer when she is leaving her son, Samuel, in the temple to live. Can you imagine leaving your little boy in the hands of a family known to have two very wicked sons? To be able to do this, Hannah, too, must have known her God to be One in whom she could put her full trust when everything around her looked impossible. In her pained situation, Hannah had a living faith. Hear her heart cry in 1 Samuel 2 as she leaves her son:

"My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD:

my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth:

for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven" (... Read more)

May Hannah and Mary's response be ours. May we know our God enough to be able to proclaim who our God is, what He has done, what He will do--even in the midst of uncertain times. Jesus, the Word that became flesh, longs to come to you and reveal Himself to you. He is Holy and Righteous and Faithful. May our soul magnify and rejoice in the God of Christmas.

A blessed CHRISTmas to you and your precious family from all of us at The Old Schoolhouse� Magazine.

~Deborah

PS. I would love to pray for you this season. If you would like that, just email your prayer request to: 

dwuehler@theoldschoolhouse.com