Overshadowed by Grace

“The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary…The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.”
Luke 1:26-35

The special name for the story of Jesus’ conception is the “annunciation” because the angel Gabriel “announces” to the young, unmarried Mary that the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and the Son of God will be conceived inside of her.

Overshadowing happens in two ways. One is the negative way that life overwhelms us. When do you feel overwhelmed in life? A shadow looms over my life when I’m overwhelmed by fear, chaos, long to-do lists, not enough time, criticism, disappointment, impatience, and tragic stories that are happening in the world around me.

And we are also overshadowed in a positive way by the overwhelming love and grace of God. Imagine being a young, unmarried girl and finding out you’re pregnant. Mary must have been overwhelmed and scared. But God overwhelms everything that overwhelms Mary. God’s shadow of grace is bigger than Mary’s shadows of fear. Jesus is conceived when God’s Holy Spirit of love and life overshadow Mary. I hope this story of God’s overshadowing grace encourages you.

You are like Mary with overwhelming shadows in your life. Be assured God’s Holy Spirit overshadows you like Mary, bringing Jesus to life in and around you. May God’s grace overshadow every shadow in your life. May God’s love overwhelm everything that overwhelms you. May the overpowering love and grace of the newborn Christ child become alive in you.

What is God’s messenger announcing to you today?

Ever Present God, when fear and despair cast a dark shadow in my life, hide me in the shadow of your wings, and send Jesus into my life. Amen.

Devotion written by Pastor Eric Bostrom