Christmas According to Kids Part 2 — Mary Knew - Tuesday
TODAY’S VERSE
Luke 1:26-27
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. (ESV)
I once met a man who owned a small pottery studio. Shelves lined with bowls and vases filled his workspace, each one unique. He told me a story about a particular vase he had planned to shape into something small and simple, but as he worked the clay, he sensed it needed a different form—taller, deeper, more intricate. “Sometimes the clay changes the plan,” he said. “But good clay yields to the hands that know it.”
Mary’s life was on a predictable path: engagement, marriage, ordinary days in Nazareth… until Gabriel arrived. In one moment, her story was reshaped. She received a divine calling that redirected everything she expected for her future.
God still speaks, calling into ordinary lives. Not always through angels, but through Scripture, quiet conviction, open doors, or holy disruptions. His calling rarely fits neatly into our plans, but it always fits perfectly into His.
Calling isn’t always about grand gestures or world-changing events. Sometimes it begins with small obedience in ordinary life, in loving your neighbor, showing kindness at work, mentoring someone younger, or faithfully walking in prayer. These seemingly small acts can become the framework for God’s larger plans.
And like good clay, we are invited to trust the hands that shape us. Even when the shaping process is uncomfortable, even when the final form seems unclear, God’s purposes are always more beautiful than our own designs.
You might feel unsure about what God is leading you toward—an unexpected opportunity, a conversation you need to have, a step of faith you’re hesitant to take. But calling isn’t about clarity of details; it’s about confidence in the One who directs your steps.
Mary’s calling required courage, trust, and willingness to step into uncertainty. In the same way, God’s call on your life may challenge your comfort zone or defy expectations. Yet each call is an invitation to join in His story, and He equips every step.
APPLICATION
Is God nudging you toward something that wasn’t in your original plan? What might it look like to say yes to His direction today?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to hear Your voice and recognize Your calling, even when it redraws the path I expected. Shape my life according to Your purpose, and give me courage to follow where You lead. Amen.