During this Christmas season, I have never been so touched and inspired through the Word of God pertaining to the birth of Jesus Christ. Particularly Luke 1:26-38, when Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel, and it is announced that she would be giving birth to the Son of God. This woman of faith was shocked, frightened, and confused when the angel of the Lord explained that she had found favor with God, and she would give birth to Jesus. “How can this be?” she questioned. “I’m a virgin!” Gabriel replies, “With God, all things are possible!” Gabriel gives Mary a word that simply states, “God has chosen you and honored you as the one to give birth to Jesus!”

You know, we may not have everything quite figured out in our lives.  We all have dreams, and for certain, we all have destiny. Just like Mary, we can be in a state of confusion as we are trying to figure out life day after day.  How do I get from point A, to point B? Where am I going in life, and what am I supposed to do? And, we continually ask, “How, why, when, where?” And in the middle of this battle of confusion that wars in our mind, we begin to even think negative of ourselves, and we put ourselves down.  “I am a nobody; I’ve got nothing; I am nothing; I’m never going to be anything; I’m not smart enough, not good looking enough,” and the battle continues.

In all reality, we were given a special gift through the birth of Jesus Christ. Such a wonderful gift that will always be ours — a gift that can never be taken away. And most importantly, He will never leave; after all, He is Emmanuel, “God is with us!” Just like Mary, God has chosen each and every one of us, each with our own individual destiny. Through this entire journey, always remember He is with us! Even in the battle of confusion, we must push ourselves to serve and love Him above all else. We may not have it figured out, but be reminded of the words Gabriel spoke, “With God, all things are possible!”