Receiving the Unexpected with Faith

Peace in the unexpected

Today is the second Sunday of Advent, a season of anticipation, waiting, and preparing our hearts for the peace of Christ. The theme we’re exploring today is “Receiving the Unexpected with Faith.” Think about a moment when life handed you something you didn’t see coming. Maybe it was a health diagnosis, a move to a new town, or a job change that seemed overwhelming. These moments test us, but they also invite us to see how faith can ground us and peace can sustain us.

Today, we look to Mary, the mother of Jesus, who received life-altering, unexpected news and responded with incredible faith. Her words in Luke 1:46-55, known as the Magnificat or Mary’s Song, are more than a song of praise—they are a testimony of peace in the face of uncertainty. Let’s begin by hearing Mary’s words:

“My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my savior… The Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is his name.”

Mary’s Unexpected News

Imagine Mary. A young woman, likely no older than a teenager, engaged to Joseph. She’s living an ordinary life in an ordinary town. Then suddenly, the angel Gabriel appears with an announcement that will change everything: she will bear the Son of God. We sometimes read this story with awe, but let’s not miss the weight of it. Mary had questions: “How can this be?” She likely knew that her pregnancy outside of the Jewish engagement and marriage ceremony rituals could bring shame, rejection, and even danger. Yet her response is astonishing: “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said” (Luke 1:38).

Mary didn’t just receive the unexpected—she embraced it with faith. You notice Mary didn’t say “let it be with me, with these changes” or “let it be with me at a different time” but “let it be with me JUST as you have said”.

Mary trusted God. She belonged totally to the Lord, body (Luke 1:38), soul (Luke 1:46), and spirit (Luke 1:47).

Warren W. Wiersbe

She found peace not because her circumstances were simple, but because she trusted God’s plan, knowing that it wasn’t forced upon her and that this God will be with her moment by moment without any possibility of abandonment.

Philippians 4:7 reminds us, “The peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.”

We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.

Thomas Merton (Trappist Monk and Writer)

This peace isn’t dependent on life making sense, it’s anchored in the presence of God. This peace also doesn’t imply that you will never have any chaos, anxiety, or depression in your life but even during the lowest or scariest times, the peace of God is present and active.

The Diagnosis

There is a woman in her late 50’s who was diagnosed with a serious illness, it was unexpected and devastating. At first, she felt her world crumbling, filled with fear about what might come. But as the days went on, she began to lean on her faith, asking God not just for healing, but for peace. She said, “I realized that even though God or I couldn’t control the diagnosis, I was the only one who could control where I placed my trust. When I trusted God, I felt a peace I can’t explain. I knew that God’s loving, merciful, and encouraging presence is always with me. Divine peace became extremely comforting in the unexpected and unwanted”.

Mary’s peace in the face of unexpected news reminds us that when life shakes us, God’s peace can steady us.

If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble.

Thomas Watson

The promise of Isaiah 54:10 speaks to this:

“The mountains may shift, and the hills may be shaken, but my faithful love won’t shift from you, and my covenant of peace won’t be shaken.”

Mary’s Song of Praise

What’s striking about Mary’s story is not just her faith but her response. She visits her cousin Elizabeth, who confirms the angel’s message, and Mary breaks out into song and transforms into a progressive disciple of Jesus protesting the empirical domineering, right wing, fundamental oppression of Christian nationalism by singing, “God has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.”

My fellow disciples of Christ, Mary saw God’s work beyond her own circumstances. She believed that through her, God would motivate disciples of his son to advocate for the peace of the Gospel which will bring hope to the world.

8434 First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.

Thomas à Kempis (Ascetical Writer)

Mary’s faith enabled her to look beyond the challenges of the present impending future and see the unfolding of God’s greater purpose in the hearts of lives of people everywhere.

The Move

Now imagine being told you have to pack up everything that you can carry and move to a completely unfamiliar place. You don’t know anyone, and you’re not sure how things will work out. It’s unsettling, isn’t it? Maybe the place you were born is no longer safe, and like Mary and Joseph, you travel to a distant land, with no documents, simply trying to survive and keep your new born child alive. God had promised something great and you want to do everything in your power to let your child achieve this peace for the world. But then, as time passes, you find new friends, new opportunities, and maybe even a sense of belonging you didn’t expect. What started as an overwhelming challenge becomes a blessing in disguise.

Mary’s journey is like that. She left behind the safety of her plans to trust in God’s bigger story. A story not predetermined but one that unfolds with possibility to provide a difference for all who will trust and receive the promised peace. Through Mary’s obedience, the world was effectively changed forever. When we face relational struggles or financial worries that force us into the unknown, we can remember Mary’s song. She trusted that God was working through her story, even when it wasn’t easy to see. Psalm 119:165 captures this beautifully: “There is lasting peace for those who love your Instruction.”

It is our duty to keep the peace, as well as to keep the faith.

Douglas Wilson

Finding Peace Through Faith

Faith doesn’t mean ignoring the challenges of life. It means trusting that God is present in the midst of them, not organizing the challenges but providing possibility through the challenges through human cooperation.

Take the example of a man who was unexpectedly offered a promotion at work. The raise was significant, but so were the responsibilities. At first, he wanted to turn it down, fearing he wasn’t capable. But after prayer and reflection, he realized God provides peace in the middle of a self-created anxiety storm. Perfect love casts out all fear and by stepping into the new adventure with divine trust, he can anticipate a life full of blessings. He leaned into the challenge, and over time, he not only grew in his career but discovered ways to bless others through his work.

The root of fear and intimidation is the love of self. Perfect love casts out fear and gives us boldness. Boldness born of love breaks the grip of intimidation. Imperfect love, or self-love opens the door to intimidation.

John Bevere

Mary’s faith is a model for us here. Her peace came not from having all the answers, but from trusting the One who sees all the avenues and gently guides into the best possible direction. Mary trusted God would not lead her down a wrong road only to get stuck in the unknown. Mary’s faith in the God of possibilities helped her to continue to peacefully walk in the surprises of life.

Peaceful Encouragement

In what ways can we find peace when life surprises us? First we can turn to God in prayer.

If a case is too small to be turned into a prayer it is too small to be made into a burden.

Corrie Ten Boom

Just as Mary turned to God with her song of praise, we too can bring our fears and hopes to Good in prayer. Second, we need to seek out a community that is likeminded and supportive.

Paul says “be like-minded” (be one, be united). Christians should be one in motive (that of love), one in attitude (that of humility) and one in purpose (that of glorifying God.)

Roy Gingrich

Mary found this encouragement in Elizabeth and I’m sure Zechariah and Joseph. Surround yourself with people who remind you of God’s promises. Third, look for God’s work in the unexpected. God is in everything so it’s not hard to miss God unless the blinders are constricting your divine vision.

Vision is seeing the invisible.

Jonathan Swift (Dean of Saint Patrick’s)

Whether it’s a health challenge, financial stress, or a new opportunity, ask, “How might God guide me through this and provide ongoing encouragement for myself and others?”

As we continue through this Advent season, may we take Mary’s example of peaceful activism to heart. Let’s trust that God’s peace is available even in the most unexpected circumstances. Amen