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 The angel went to her and said,
"Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
Mary was greatly troubled at his words. (Luke 1:28-29)
It can be easy to think that Bible characters had it all together. But if you take time to read carefully, it becomes clear that these people were truly human.
Take Mary, for instance – a teenage Jewish girl from a poor, backward village. God chose her to be the mother of our Lord.
 Scripture gives us insight into Mary’s first response when an angel appeared to her to explain the news: “Mary was greatly troubled” (Luke 1:29).
The verb troubled translates as “to be wholly disturbed, agitated, alarmed.” Mary struggled with the news of her pregnancy. Uncertainty and confusion reigned – at least initially.
Yet she did not remain that way. Mary chose not to stay in that place of turmoil. Instead, she asked questions. She prayed. And soon, she made a decision to handle her pregnancy in a way that honored God.
Like Bible characters of old, we’re human. A woman who discovers she is pregnant, thought she did not plan to be, may understandably react with alarm and confusion.
But will she remain that way? It’s at that point that God can do a powerful work in her life. If she is willing, God can help her make decisions that honor Him … and give her what she needs to move forward.
 Heavenly Father,
Work in the hearts of women who face an unplanned pregnancy. Help them to make decisions that honor You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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