anticipation:
The act of expecting or foreseeing something; expectation or presentiment

Maybe today is the day. Maybe she’ll finally arrive!

At 39 weeks pregnant, “anticipation” is the word at the forefront of my mind. I’ve had my hospital bag packed for weeks. Carseat strapped in ready to go on a second’s notice and 57 freezer meals ready to be unwrapped and warmed when needed.

I’m a planner and I like to be ready.

Upon entering the holiday season while pregnant, I’ve been pondering what Mary must’ve been feeling leading up to Jesus’ birth. Was she mad at Ceasar’s decree that required her to leave their comfortable home in Nazareth and travel while at the end of her third trimester? Nervous about going into labor on the side of the road and Joseph being responsible for delivery? Anxious that she didn’t have a confirmed hotel reservation from BethlehemBooking.com?

Begrudgingly, I admit I think I would’ve been all of those things. However, looking back at Mary’s example in Luke 2 (and to her incredible credit!), maybe she wasn’t fearful at all? Maybe she was completely at peace knowing that God was with her and that was the only plan she needed?

My Type A control-loving personality is cringing at all the unknowns that Mary must’ve had to face, but in a good way, it’s caused me to think about how I can choose to allow peace to rule in my mind instead of fear.

Even when there is no plan.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Colossians 3:15 NLT

Life wasn’t easy in 1 BC for Mary. I’m guessing the devil did his best to plague her with thoughts of worry and fear while carrying Jesus, but I’m also guessing that she learned how to tap into God’s supernatural peace and surrender to His will.

Even without knowing the full plan.

As the date of my baby’s birth draws closer, I am sensing that God is working on my heart to also enter into the same peace that Mary did. The peace that surpasses all understanding. The peace that overrules any fear or doubts about troubling situations. The peace that can only come from Christ. His perfect peace.

It’s available to you the same as it’s available to me. It’s just up to us to keep our minds focused on the fact that God can be trusted amid the “what ifs” and cares of the world.

He will never let you down. His peace is here for you.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:3

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