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An Advent Devotional Study from Caring.
Christmastime can carry many mixed emotions—and lots of stress. But this year will be different.
Reserve five minutes a day to read the daily devotional entry in this series and journey through the Christmas season with peace, perspective and hope.
This “Hope and a Future: Advent Devotional Study” will guide you through the month of December to ponder afresh the story of the Bible with Jesus’ birth as the focus. Find daily a reflection, highlighted Scripture, meaningful questions and a prompt for prayer.
Connect with God this Christmas season and experience hope for the future.
December 9: How Can This Be?
Take a deep breath. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts through today’s reflection.
Sometimes we long for details of how God will work things out in our lives.
Mary was the same. When she heard the most glorious news from Gabriel, the angel (the Messiah is coming through you!)—she wanted to know: how? How could the Messiah come through her when she wasn’t even married?
Mary asked the angel, “How can this be?” A very honest question.
God welcomed her question, asked in faith—unlike Zechariah’s question asked in doubt. You see, Mary asked how God would do his word, Zechariah asked for proof God would do his word. Mary trusted God’s character to do his word while Zechariah doubted God’s character to do his word.
We can imagine the thoughts that might have rushed through Mary’s mind before she asked this practical question. She was not a rich person, so, how would the King of Kings come through her? She did not live in Jerusalem, so how could David’s son come through her? She was not from a well-connected family, so how could the Messiah come through her? She was not married, so how would God-with-us come through her?
God responded to her innocent and faith-led question with patience through the Angel Gabriel. And since God is unchanging in his character, we can be confident that God welcomes our honest questions asked in faith as well.
Read: Hear from God
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34).
Reflect: Focus on God
What in your life right now do you wonder how it will all work out? Are you willing to come to God in confident faith with your questions instead of fear and mistrust?
Pray: Talk to God
Talk to God about your reflections above. If you would like a sample prayer, here is one to follow:
Father God, I worship you. Right now, I am as curious as I imagine Mary might have felt. God, how will you _______________ . I know you are with me and will show me the way forward like you showed Mary. Help me to trust you are at work. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Do Good:
- Looking for a meaningful way to prepare your family for Christmas? Try our new, classic downloadable Advent Paper Chain. For 25 days, reflect on the love we receive from God and give to others during the holiday season.
- Join us in making a difference with The Salvation Army this season and help families in your community during the holidays and beyond.
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