I Called, He Answered | This Christmas | Pastor Steve Andres

Have you wondered where God is at? Luke 1:30-31And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.When the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary, he announces that God is answering the cry of his people with a Savior. Mary thoughtfully and honestly brings her questions in reply. 1) God is never scared of our doubts or questions.In the end, Mary believes and the miracle the angel promised comes to pass. This experience shapes her hopes and expectations.2) A person with a testimony is never at the mercy of a person with an argument.The angel tells Mary that nothing will be impossible with God, just like the angel told Abraham, “Is anything too wonderful [difficult] for the Lord?”3) What if the difficult things are also the wonderful things?Faith is not thinking about different things than other people, faith is thinking about the same things differently. When we trust the Lord as Mary did, we are able to see that whatever God does not protect us FROM he will perfect us THROUGH.In the end, the difficult things God brings us through will be a cause for praise and worship!