Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

Luke 1:30

What a great truth lies in the reassuring words of the angel to Mary, “do not be afraid, for you have found favour with God.” It shows that no matter who you are or what circumstance or situation you are in—there is no exception in God’s favour.

God’s favour is never based on your credentials or performance but on His character—which is love! Every taste of God's favour feeds your faith and increases your hope and strengthens your resilience.

God knows you will face troubled days that will cause much distress and suffering but He doesn't want you to be afraid. Instead of shuddering in the place of fear, choose to rest in the place of His amazing favour. And there is no better place to find His favour than through His Beloved Son.

Consider Jesus as your Immanuel which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). 

He is God's favour at its most inexplicable and yet most beautiful. His name is more than enough to help you overcome all of life's imponderable questions. Be assured in the midst of trials and temptation Jesus has already won the victory for you. In every battle, learn to rest in Him (2 Corinthians 12:9) and discover His power working within you is able to do far more than you can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:19-20).

While we are not immune to pain or suffering, if we know God in Christ is with us and for us, nothing can work against us. When we fully follow Him and allow Him to lead, we will experience the mystery of His grace where sorrow and pain and death shall no more sting us. We will recover whatever we lost when we obediently lay our treasure at His feet. Until then, learn to trust that God's faithfulness is far greater than our ability to comprehend.