My young nephews love to ask questions. Their favorite is: “Why?” “Why do I have to sleep?” “Why is it cloudy?” “Why does my baby brother cry all of the time?” “Why can’t animals talk?” I love to wonder with them as they encounter this great big world. Their curiosity is inspiring and reminds me of the power a question holds.
I’m inspired by Mary’s question to the angel when she was told she would give birth to the Messiah: “How can this be?” How could such a thing be possible? The wonderment holds the heart of hope.
Mary reminds us that hope is found in the confidence that God is with us in the midst of questions. Hope empowers us to trust in God’s timing and to believe that, even when we can’t see the full picture, He is weaving something beautiful. It reminds us that the God who brought forth a Savior from a virgin womb is the same God who can bring life, restoration, and joy into the places of our lives that seem barren and impossible.
Like Mary, we might find ourselves standing in a place where the future seems unclear, the promises of God seem distant, and our understanding is limited. Yet, it’s in these moments of uncertainty when hope is most needed—and most powerful.
When we find ourselves asking, "How can this be?"---whether in the face of a personal challenge, an uncertain future, or a deep longing for something more—we can look to the Advent story. God brought light into the darkness, fulfilled His promises in unexpected ways, and turned impossibilities into realities. Like Mary, may we embrace the mystery, trust in God's promises, and wait with anticipation for the ways He will bring light into our world.
