Looking for Approval

Teens, no matter the culture, seek for approval. They’re learning what it means to be adults, but they still need to look over their shoulder and see a nod of approval.

Mary, the mother of Jesus was, most likely, just a teen when she was chosen by the Holy Spirit to bear God’s son. Jewish culture addressed her as a woman because she was old enough to be married, but she still had much to learn. As was the custom of the day, she was betrothed to Joseph, but she still lived with her family, learning from her elders.  

Can you imagine then, as a young teen, what it was like to be seen as culturally inappropriate—a virgin, betrothed to an upstanding young man yet already pregnant? As her belly grew with the Divine One Mary knew she was walking closely to Yahweh, but gaining approval or affirmation from those she respected had to be hard to come by.

Yet Mary carried on because she was listening to her Creator. She had to drown out her culture and need for approval and just watch Yahweh answer her needs and direct her path. The beauty of the birth of her son wasn’t just that the messiah had come. Mary was also given affirmation that her faith and obedience were not in vain.

May this Christmas season be filled with reminders of why believing in the promises of Yahweh is worth the risk. May we, like Mary, drown out the voices of the scoffers and cynics and simply kneel at God’s feet and take in his greatness. And as we behold our King, the Great I Am, may we comprehend that his love is the only affirmation we need—even if the world doesn’t understand.