Redemption Through Christ

Saying Yes to the Impossible

Mary was an ordinary young woman from Nazareth when the extraordinary events of her life interrupted her. The angel Gabriel appeared with a message that defied reason: she would conceive and bear the Son of God. By human standards, it was unthinkable. She was not yet married, her reputation could be destroyed, and her future was uncertain. Yet Mary did not cling to fear or doubt. She responded with quiet surrender: “Let it be to me according to your word.”

Her yes came at a cost. Carrying the Messiah meant whispers of misunderstanding, suspicion from her community, and even confusion within her family. To say yes was to embrace a path that would not be applauded but questioned and resisted. Yet her surrender opened the way for God’s redemptive plan to unfold for all humanity. Mary teaches us that God’s call is not always comfortable; it often requires costly obedience.

Centuries later, another woman faced a different kind of impossibility: Susanna Wesley. The youngest of twenty-five children, Susanna endured hardship from birth. She married Samuel Wesley, a man of many responsibilities, and raised nineteen children, ten of whom survived to adulthood. She faced financial struggles, long separations, and even a fire that twice destroyed their home. Yet amid chaos, she carved out sacred moments with God.

Education and prayer were her acts of defiance against despair. She taught her children to read Scripture by the time they were five, and each day, she would pull her apron over her head to meet with God. This quiet, unseen devotion shaped generations. Her sons, John and Charles Wesley, ignited revival across England and wrote hymns that continue to inspire the church today. Susanna’s life reminds us that a humble, faithful yes can ripple far beyond what we can see.

I have experienced the weight of a similar yes. After our son became seriously ill and passed away, grief pressed heavily on our family. On top of heartbreak came misunderstanding from those around us. In that season, Mary’s courage to carry out God’s calling, even when judged, became a lifeline. Her story gave me the strength to walk a path few understood, trusting God to meet us in our pain.

Saying yes did not erase the sorrow, but it opened the door for God to work in ways we could never predict. Over time, He led our family to new experiences, travel across countries and cities, and opportunities to witness cultures and creation with fresh eyes. These gifts reminded us that surrender does not end in loss. It becomes fertile soil where miracles grow.

Mary’s yes, Susanna’s yes, and the daily yes God invites us to give all remind us of this truth: trusting God with the impossible does not make the road easy, but it transforms us. It anchors us and shapes a legacy that touches lives beyond our own. When we surrender, God does immeasurably more than we can imagine.

Reflection Question:

How open are you to God’s plans, even when they surprise you?

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to say yes to You, even when the way forward feels uncertain. Give me courage to trust Your plan and strength to surrender my fears, believing that nothing is impossible with You.