Devoted To God’s Plans | Luke 1:26-38
Mother’s Day is a time dedicated to honoring the love, sacrifice, and devotion of mothers everywhere. But as Charlie Wallace beautifully reflected in his recent sermon on Luke 1:26-38, this celebration can also become a unique lens to examine devotion – not just among moms, but in the lives of all followers of Christ. The story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, highlights how God’s plans often disrupt our own, enhance our purpose, and empower us in ways we never imagined.
If you’ve ever faced an unexpected twist in life and wondered how to react, Mary’s story holds valuable lessons. Let’s dive into these timeless truths, inspired by Wallace’s insightful message, and see how they can encourage us to trust, surrender, and thrive—even when God’s plans look nothing like our own.
God’s Plans Often Disrupt Ours
Charlie Wallace opened with a relatable illustration about assembling furniture—how sometimes, following the directions is tedious, but without them, we end up frustrated or completely off track. It’s a lot like life. We all have plans, dreams, and a sense of how things should unfold: career trajectories, relationships, or even something as universal as the passage from parenthood to “empty nest.”
Mary, a young woman likely enjoying her own simple life in Nazareth, was suddenly greeted by an angel and told that she would bear the Son of God. In an instant, her plans were not only interrupted – they were utterly transformed. She was betrothed, planning a wedding, living as a faithful Jew, and then, with a single message, God disrupted everything.
Wallace points out several ways God might disrupt our lives:
Unexpected life changes: Job loss, a relocation, health challenges—all push us out of comfort zones to trust God.
Challenging relationships: Sometimes, difficult people or strained relationships force growth in patience, forgiveness, and love.
Redirected goals: Just when you think you’ve charted your course, God might add a new child to your family, shift your calling, or provide an unplanned opportunity.
Trials and suffering: Hardships can build spiritual muscle, preventing us from becoming complacent or spiritually “lazy.”
What Mary teaches us here is invaluable: disruption doesn’t mean God’s forgotten us. Instead, it’s often proof of His active involvement. While our instincts may be to control or resist, God’s sovereign interruptions invite us into something better—His best, though it may be different from what we expected.
God’s Plans Enhance Our Lives
Disruption isn’t the end of the story—it’s a new beginning. When the angel tells Mary she will bear Jesus, he reveals that her child will not only be great, but will fulfill promises generations in the making. Through Mary, God would send the Messiah—Jesus, Deliverer, Rescuer, Son of the Most High, the eternal King.
Imagine Mary’s perspective: she goes from “ordinary girl” to “mother of the Messiah.” Her purpose, fulfillment, and sense of calling suddenly surpass anything she could have planned on her own. As Wallace shared, when we allow God’s plans to overwrite ours, we gain a richer, deeper meaning in life. The trajectory of our days changes, filled with purpose and impact beyond what we could dream.
Wallace encourages us to pray that God would disrupt our lives in ways that bring greater purpose and spiritual fulfillment. When we surrender our stories, He writes something greater. Our mission—to make disciples, to love deeply, to serve faithfully—becomes the source of our greatest satisfaction. Like Mary, we discover that saying “yes” to God’s plan, even with risks and fears, brings us into the center of His transforming work.
God’s Plans Empower Us
Perhaps Mary’s most remarkable response is her humility and trust. Faced with the impossible—bearing a son as a virgin—she asks, “How will this be?” The angel’s answer isn’t a technical manual, but a simple declaration: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you… nothing will be impossible with God.”
Mary’s confusion and concern are understandable. Her reputation, her relationship with Joseph, her entire future was at stake. Yet, in her moment of decision, she bowed with the words, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.” This is faith in action—not absence of questions, but active dependence on God’s ability to do what only He can do.
So how does God empower us as we walk in His plan?
The Holy Spirit’s Power
As Wallace reminded us, when we pursue God’s purposes, we aren’t working alone. The Holy Spirit provides supernatural strength, wisdom, and even miracles. Mary’s pregnancy was physically impossible—yet God made it happen by His Spirit. In our lives, the impossible becomes possible as we trust, pray, and move forward in faith.
Overcoming Impossibilities
God overcomes obstacles that seem insurmountable. Whether financial struggles, broken relationships, or daunting callings, God specializes in opening doors no one can shut. As Wallace shared from personal experience, when our plans align with God’s, He removes barriers and provides exactly what we need, often in unexpected ways.
Daily Guidance and Transformation
We’re not left to figure out God’s plans alone. Guidance comes through Scripture, prayer, and godly counsel. Over time, He transforms our weaknesses, using our limitations to display His strength. Charlie Wallace confessed his own fear of public speaking, yet through God’s empowerment, he now leads and preaches. Our perceived weaknesses become the platform for God’s glory.
Community and Encouragement
Often, God places people in our paths at just the right moment—mentors, encouragers, and friends who point us back to His faithfulness. The angel encouraged Mary by sharing Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy. In community, we’re reminded “nothing is impossible with God.”
Embracing God’s Plan: A Call to Devotion
Mary’s story is a masterpiece of devotion—not to her own comfort, but to God’s will. As Wallace closed, he urged us to respond as Mary did: “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.” Whether you’re a mother, a father, or somewhere else on life’s journey, God’s plans will sometimes challenge and change you. But in surrender, you’ll find greater fulfillment, peace, and power than you ever expected.
So as we celebrate Mother’s Day and reflect on Mary’s example, let’s ask:
What plans or preferences do I need to surrender to God?
Where am I resisting a disruption God may be using for my good?
Am I open to being empowered by the Holy Spirit—even if it means stepping into the unknown?
May we, like Mary, say “yes” to God’s invitation. And as we do, may our lives become living testimonies to His goodness, wisdom, and love.
SEO Keywords: God’s plans, devotion to God, Mary mother of Jesus, Luke 1:26-38 sermon, how to trust God’s plan, God disrupts plans, Holy Spirit empowerment, Christian encouragement, Mother’s Day sermon ideas, lessons from Mary
Conclusion
Disrupted plans, enhanced purpose, and divine empowerment—these are hallmarks of a life devoted to God. As Mary discovered, what begins as an interruption may just become our greatest story of faith. This Mother’s Day, and every day, let’s live with open hearts, ready to embrace all that God has planned for us.
