Challenges

             And Mary said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.” (Luke1:46-49)

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” (Genesis 22:2)

 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.  So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:8-10)

          “I love a challenge.” I’ve said this many times, and it’s true. But…

Get pregnant as (probably) a young teen in a society in which I could be executed for it while maintaining that the child is from God and that I’ve been “good”? And sing about it? 

Sacrifice a beloved child who had been promised to me?

Lead millions of enslaved people away from those who have enslaved them and later take on six other nations to have a place to live?

          Maybe when I was young and more foolish than I am now, I might have considered one of these, but I doubt it. I love challenges in which I have some measure of control. At least, I like to think I have control as I take my little Chinese takeout box of “What’s this?” home only to discover that it’s a blob that takes over my world. Because that’s what real challenges do. They interrupt, interfere, change, and control your life. They are generally inconvenient, and you can probably guarantee that the challenge that comes into your life is not the one you wanted. If we had a clue what the challenge really involved, we’d probably say “No, thanks.”

          I know some hesitate to admire Mary because of Maryology. She wasn’t sinless or perfect, but she took on a daunting task, and was willing to take it on “solo” if Joseph didn’t cooperate. Credit where credit is due. It would do us all good if we studied the challenges and types of challenges others have faced. I’ve said before that I wish I could handle the challenges I face as well as Mary did. I try to tell myself my response is even more pathetic because the challenge in her life was God-sized while (in my mind) mine are petty. Without seeking to diminish the magnitude of Mary’s challenge, I’m going to suggest that a life-changing challenge, regardless of the size, will likely produce many of the same responses. Who do I (not) tell? What do I do about…? What will ___ think? Say? Do? How will I cope? What if I fail? What if?

The old spider of fear attacks when challenges are encountered, because it is the nature of a challenge for the old to lose control, and the new to take it. It is within the nature of a challenge to disrupt not only our sense of control, but even our hold on reality. Even God’s promises may seem to be thrown aside. It is when we face challenges that we need to hold on to God, even if everything else is shaken.