Have you ever found yourself in an impossible situation and desperately needing a solution? Most of us have. The first time I found myself in such a dilemma, I was twelve years old at a bus station in Long Beach, California. When we arrived about five or six AM mother only had a quarter left. She bought my two sisters, my brother, and me a donut to eat, and then she was broke. She received help from the Red Cross in contacting my uncles to let them know that we were there. They had no idea we were coming. We had left Texas quickly to avoid being taken from our mother and placed in an orphanage. After making contact with my uncles who were in the navy there was nothing to do but wait. We were still waiting at two PM. We were hungry and frightened. Mother was distraught. She returned to the Red Cross office to ask if there was anything they could do. They assured her the message had been sent and there was nothing else they could do. When she returned to us she said to me,” What are we going to do?” Was she asking me what to do or simply expressing her desperation? Whatever she was doing, I thought she was asking me what to do. I sat up straight and looked at all the people. I don’t think I had ever seen that many people in one place before. It was a little frightening. I noticed there were a lot of navy men. I told mother we were going to pick out a sailor with a lot of stripes on his sleeve and ask him to help us. She said she would go with me. I picked out the sailor that I thought had the most stripes and went over to him to ask for help. I am sure I gave the sailor more information than was necessary but when I finished he assured me he could help. He made a phone call and before long my uncles were there to get us. Our needs were met.
When I left you last Mary had just been given an impossible assignment. The angel had told her she would have a son whom she was to Jesus. He said her son would be great and would be called the Son of the Most High; that God would give him the throne of his father David which he would reign forever, and that his kingdom would never end. That was too much for most of us to absorb. Mary only had one question, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” Since Mary was a virgin and intended to remain so until her marriage to Joseph, it would be impossible for her to conceive a child. Mary must not have known about Isaiah’s prophecy in 7:14. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel, God wit us. (It was the only way for mankind to be set free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2-3) The angel did not rebuke Mary for her question but gave her an answer and an encouraging example. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1: 35-37
The same Spirit that was present at creation came upon Mary and the same power that overshadowed Moses and the Children of Israel during their travels would overshadow Mary to bring about the impossible. Elisabeth, who was too old to be having a baby, is in her sixth month.
This reminds me of a little song we used to sing:
Nothing is too difficult for Thee
Nothing is too difficult for Thee
Great and mighty God
Great in power
Mighty in deed
Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing
Nothing is too difficult for thee.
One more thing I want you to know about the sailor with lots of stripes. He was the captain on the ship my uncles was stationed on. Although I was not aware of it then, I am confident now this was one occasion when the power of the Most High overshadowed a little girl giving guidance and direction in what seemed like an impossible situation.
Many Blessings,
Virginia
These stories blow my mind sometimes, but they are wonderful insights into my mother's incredible trust in the Most High. I am so blessed to have shared the shadow that has overpowered her life. What encouragement to see what God can do!
Ronda
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