Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

Luke 1:30

Nowhere in Scripture do we find God promising us security or absence of suffering. Rather, He promises His presence in whatever we face. He calls us to leave the comfortable, the familiar, and to get to the place in our daily walk where Jesus is our security. But that’s risky!

Mary was promised by the angel Gabriel that she would be the mother of the Messiah. In our more romantic moments, we ponder how wonderful that would be. What an affirmation! But what a risk! When Mary said yes to God’s plan, she risked ridicule. She had to bear the shame of being an unwed mother and then to spend her life watching people reject and ultimately crucify her son. Would she have taken the risk if she hadn’t trusted in God’s goodness?

Trust must precede risk. That is why it is necessary for us to comprehend the security found in God’s accepting and forgiving love-to grasp that God loves us just as much to whether we succeed or fail-before we will be free to risk.

Prayer:  Thank-you, God, that because of Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary, I have found favor with you. Help me make that the basis of my security so that I am free to risk.