I Believe Mary Knew | Worth The Wait | Pastor Nick Person

Devotional

Day 1: Mary trusted God's plan despite uncertainty.

Mary heard an astonishing greeting — “you who are highly favored” — and in the face of confusion, fear, and questions she still chose to trust and obey; she believed the invitation was worth both the wait and the weight and responded, “I am the Lord’s servant,” offering herself to God even before she understood every detail. [28:11]

Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Reflection: Who is one person, decision, or call you are hesitating to say “yes” to because of uncertainty? Today, tell one trusted believer about it and ask them to pray with you for boldness to take one small step toward obedience.

Day 2: God sent Christ at the appointed time.

The coming of Jesus shows that God moves in His timing — the set time fully came — and while waiting can feel heavy, that waiting is transformative; God’s timing redeems history and personal stories alike, shaping who people become as they wait and preparing them for what He intends to do. [23:02]

Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Reflection: Identify one expectation or plan you are trying to rush; today write it down, pray aloud, “Lord, I release this to Your timing,” and place that note somewhere visible to remind yourself to trust God’s appointed time this week.

Day 3: Ask; God gives good gifts amid waiting.

God invites persistent, simple faith — ask, seek, knock — and illustrates that a father who gives bread, not stones, is not stingy; even in the in-between God affirms His people with goodness and provides what is truly needed while shaping trust through the wait. [45:37]

Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV)
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?

Reflection: Today, name one specific, kingdom-focused need (for yourself or someone else), then pause and pray a clear request for that need right now — and text or tell one person that you prayed so you’ll remember to watch for God’s response.

Day 4: God's plans bring hope and a future.

Even when the middle of the story feels dark, God’s nature is to bring a hopeful future; the promise that He has plans to prosper and not to harm is a steadying truth to hold when breakthrough seems delayed, reminding believers not to give up before God finishes the work. [45:37]

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Reflection: Write down one fear or doubt about your future; tonight read Jeremiah 29:11 aloud, journal how that promise speaks to your fear, and identify one small, hopeful step you can take tomorrow toward the future God promises.

Day 5: Offer yourself as worship through transformed living.

True response to God’s mercy is sacrificial devotion — offering the body as a living sacrifice — which means daily decisions become acts of worship as the mind is renewed and the believer is transformed into Christlike obedience, taking the next step even when it’s hard. [48:38]

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Reflection: Choose one ordinary part of your day (a meal, commute, or task) and intentionally offer it to God as worship: pray a brief Scripture before you begin, do the task with gratitude, and notice how that single act reshapes your heart toward obedience today.

Sermon Summary

Christmas invites us to face two realities: the wait and the weight. I opened by sharing how I gave my late mother’s rings to my wife and daughter—gifts that carried time, tenderness, and the heaviness of loss. That picture helps us see Advent: God’s gift of Jesus arrived after centuries of waiting (W-A-I-T) and carries eternal weight (W-E-I-G-H-T). In Galatians 4, Paul says God sent His Son “when the set time had fully come.” God is not late; He is precise. But His precision often doesn’t feel convenient.

Mary helps us hold both truths together. Gabriel calls her “highly favored,” and the very next word is essentially “pregnant.” Sometimes favor doesn’t feel favorable. Trusting God may not reduce difficulty, but it always secures presence and purpose. Mary shows us what obedience looks like when the outcome is promised but the path is unclear. She asks honest questions, hears an impossible plan, and chooses a simple, profound response: “I am the Lord’s servant.” She steps forward before she understands, which is often the doorway to understanding.

Waiting isn’t wasted time; it’s formative space. God develops us pixel by pixel, not all at once. Even in the DMV lines of life, He forms patience, dependence, and resilience. And He is kind to give manna of affirmation in the in-between—like Elizabeth’s Spirit-filled blessing and John’s leap in the womb. If our eyes are open, there are breadcrumbs of God’s faithfulness scattered throughout our days.

I called us to remember God’s character: He gives good gifts, He keeps His promises, and the empty tomb proves He finishes what He starts. Mary breaks into worship before she sees how it will all unfold. That is faith with a memory—remembering who God has always been, and letting that memory sing ahead of the breakthrough. We may not know all the details, but we do know the outcome. Because Jesus is risen and reigning, obedience is worth the wait and the weight. Today’s invitation is simple and costly: trust and obey. Take the first step. God will meet you there.

Key Takeaways

1. Favor may not feel favorable Sometimes God’s favor places us in assignments that stretch us beyond comfort and control. Favor doesn’t always simplify life; it sanctifies life. It moves us from self-reliance to Spirit-dependence, where God’s presence becomes the gift. Mary shows that favor and hardship can share the same sentence. [31:14]
2. Waiting is transformative, not wasted God forms our character in the delays we didn’t choose. Waiting exposes our appetites and resets our loves, so that when the gift comes, we can carry it. He reveals His will a pixel at a time to teach us trust over time. Who we become in the waiting is part of His good work. [36:13]
3. Every testimony begins with a test We love the outcome but resist the classroom. Yet God repurposes trials into testimonies that honor Him and strengthen others. The test is not proof of God’s absence; it’s often the stage for His nearness and power. Let Him write the story beyond your present page. [39:26]
4. Expect manna of affirmation while waiting God sprinkles confirmations along the way—timely words, unexpected provision, unexplainable peace. These are not the full feast, but they are real food. Train your eyes to see small mercies as large reminders: God is here, God is speaking, God is moving. [41:31]
5. Obedience before details; outcome secure Mary worshiped before she saw, because she knew who God is. Obedience is not blind; it’s anchored in God’s proven character. When the ending is certain, you’re free to trust through the middle. Worship leads the way when answers lag behind. [48:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[20:20] - Series intro: Worth the Wait
[20:39] - The rings: wait and weight
[23:02] - Wait vs. weight; God’s timing
[24:45] - I Believe Mary Knew
[28:11] - Gabriel meets Mary in Nazareth
[31:14] - When favor doesn’t feel favorable
[32:47] - God’s track record of faithfulness
[34:47] - God owes nothing; slow reveal
[38:27] - Mary’s yes amid impossibility
[39:26] - Every testimony starts with a test
[41:31] - Affirmation in the in-between
[45:37] - The Father gives good gifts
[48:38] - Worship before the outcome
[51:40] - Responding to the invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

- Luke 1:26-38, 46-55 — 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. 46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Observation Questions

What is Gabriel’s greeting to Mary and how does Luke describe her immediate reaction? ([28:11])
Which specific promises does Gabriel make about the child’s identity and future rule? How does Luke frame the certainty of those promises? ([31:14])
How does Mary respond to Gabriel’s explanation about how this will happen? Which phrase summarizes her reply? ([38:27])
What signs of affirmation does Mary receive when she visits Elizabeth? What two responses happen in that scene? ([41:31])

Interpretation Questions

What does the phrase “favor may not feel favorable” mean in Mary’s context and how does that shape the sermon’s claim about God’s gifts? ([31:35])
How should one understand the statement “waiting is transformative” — what does the sermon mean by God forming people “pixel by pixel” while they wait? ([36:13])
In what ways does the sermon’s claim “every testimony begins with a test” change how one interprets struggles that precede a breakthrough? ([39:26])
Why does Mary break into worship before seeing the outcome, and how does that worship function as an act of trust in the sermon’s argument? ([45:37])

Application Questions

Identify one current waiting season in your life (big or small). What is one concrete step of obedience you can take this week while you’re still waiting? ([48:38])
Think of a time when God’s favor brought harder responsibilities or suffering rather than immediate relief. How did you respond then? What is one practical way to shift your posture from resentment to trust next time “favor doesn’t feel favorable”? ([31:35])
List two “manna of affirmation” you’ve received during a past or present waiting season (a word, a small provision, peace, a friend’s encouragement). How will you remember and rehearse those affirmations this week so they strengthen your faith? ([41:31])
Name a present test you’re facing that could become part of a future testimony. What is one specific habit (prayer time, Scripture passage, accountability check-in) you will start this week to cooperate with God in that test? ([39:26])
Mary worshiped before she saw the outcome. Choose one concrete worship practice you will do this week while you wait (for example: sing one worship song each morning, write a 3-line gratitude list nightly, or recite a Bible promise aloud). When will you do it? ([45:37])
Who is one person you can tell about God’s faithfulness from your waiting season this month? When and how will you share that story? ([39:26])
The sermon invited taking the first step of obedience even without all the answers. What is the smallest step you’ve been avoiding that you could take in the next 48 hours? Describe the step and commit to a time to do it. ([48:38])

Sermon Clips

See, the gift of Jesus that God gave us involved wait, W-A-I-T, but it also involved wait, W-E-I-G-H-T. It says this in Galatians chapter four, beginning in verse four, but when the set time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law that we might receive adoption to sonship. See, today we are going to look at the life of Mary, and we're gonna see how she stepped into this, how she recognized that what God was inviting her into was worth the wait. [00:24:05] (40 seconds) #WorthTheWait

Mary is a teenage girl. The angel says to her, Mary, you are highly favored. You have found favor with God. Here is your blessing. You're going to be pregnant. Now, Mary has probably sat with her mom. Her mom has probably explained about the birds and the bees and she knew a lot of things. So I'm sure when this teenage girl hears this angel's message and he goes, you are highly favored. You about to have a baby girl. Imagine that there was probably a pause with her taking this because I'm sure the favor didn't fit what she thought it would fit. [00:30:12] (45 seconds) #UnexpectedFavor

Sometimes favor doesn't seem favorable. A lot of us have lived this. A lot of you, you have surrendered your life to Jesus and you thought, man, look at him. He loves me. He sees me. He's taken away my sin. He's given me a seat at his table. He's given me a robe of righteousness. He's given me a crown to put upon my head. He's given me new sandals to walk out and walk in his ways. Praise be to God. And then you surrender your life and then immediately you're reminded that we still live in a broken world. [00:31:32] (29 seconds) #FavorIsNotAlwaysEasy

Listen, God never promised us that things would be easy. He promised us his presence. He promised us we will be made new. He promised us that we were called by a new name. He told us that we have new life. And so it was never about being easy. And the Bible is full of people who have found the favor of God but it didn't seem so favorable. Just to walk down memory lane with you, remember that God freed the Israelites from Egypt's grasp, right? And they were excited about that. [00:32:15] (31 seconds) #PresenceOverEasy

God is going, my favor is quite favorable. See, here's the problem. A lot of times we want it to go our way not God's way. We want the easy path not the hard path and when we walk in obedience we think that God owes us something because of what he has called us to do and so we keep tabs of what God needs to do because of what we're doing but let me be honest with you. God is not in the deficit y'all. God doesn't owe us anything and I know that we are really good at keeping track of the score but if you're really keeping an honest score we know that God is not in the deficit. [00:34:17] (42 seconds) #GodDoesntOweUs

``He took you when you were far off brought you home surrendered his life three days later got up holding the key to victory and has given you that key of victory and given you a seat at his table before you said one amen or before you sang one song so he does not owe us anything but what God does do is he reveals his picture just one pixel at a time and we want to see the picture develop quickly but God's like no no wait wait wait see waiting is transformative let me say that again waiting is transformative. [00:34:59] (38 seconds) #WaitIsTransformative

Who you become while you are waiting is as important as what you are waiting for hear me church your waiting is not wasted it's transformative if we just lean in and trust and we know that God is going to use it to make us more like himself it is for our good. Luke chapter 1 verse 34 Mary has just been told that she's going to have a child and she asked a very good question in verse 34 how will this be Mary asked the angel since I am a virgin I love her honesty. [00:36:42] (38 seconds) #BecomingWhileYouWait

Every testimony begins with a test I do not like that truth but it's no less true every testimony begins with a test it's true it's literally true and figuratively true y'all and as he said that to me and I was like see let me just go ahead and tell you there is going to be obstacles on this journey y'all there are going to be dark days there are going to be storms there are going to be things that don't make sense but yet God is using those things he is using the brokenness of this world to write a better testimony for you. [00:39:02] (40 seconds) #TrialsMakeTestimony

If it ain't good he's not done y'all sometimes we give up in the middle of the story and the breakthrough is coming and it might not be on this side of glory but it is coming we know that we're walking from a place of victory we're not striving after victory we've already been given it through Jesus he is faithful to do what he says he is going to do y'all and he is good and I know for some of us maybe some of us even watching online that is hard to hear and believe but hear me because the tomb is empty we know he is faithful. [00:45:51] (39 seconds) #BreakthroughIsComing

Mary Mary didn't know the details but she did know the outcome hear me we don't know all the details but we can trust the outcome we don't know what's coming we don't know the storm on the horizon but we do know the one who is in control we do know the one who keeps his promises we do know the one who is faithful we do know that he is good we do know that he is kind we do know that he is merciful we do know that he is full of grace we do know that he is good we do know that he is seated we do know that he does what he says he is going to do even when the journey is long even when he haven't answered our prayer yet we know it's yes and amen. [00:50:35] (50 seconds) #TrustTheOutcome

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