“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 ESV
When Mary was visited by the angel, Gabriel, and learned of God’s plan for her to bring forth the Savior of the world, did she imagine that she would be giving birth to the Son of God in a stable with only her betrothed husband at her side? These were not the normal conditions for giving birth. Was this what God had planned? Did Gabriel know it would start this way. Did it have to be this hard?
Surrender to God’s plans may require situations and circumstances that we would never imagine or agree to if we had known. However, God is very aware of his plans for our lives. Learning to trust him in the journey has always been a part of his plan. Surrender is where faith meets obedience.
Church planters go back to their calling often to draw strength for the journey the Lord has them on. We see those examples all through scripture. It’s all part of His Story, and in it, we live surrendered.