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 and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.

– Luke 1:28-30

I love Calvin Miller’s reflection on this passage.  He says,

Do not God’s visitations unnerve us?  But why?  Because He never comes to us without asking us to do something.  We never know what He will ask of us, but we know that we will be overwhelmed by our feelings of inadequacy.

I’ve been there countless times.  God, through the pages of Scripture or through answered prayer, calls me to do something.  In response I feel inadequate, unprepared, and ill-equipped.  I offer excuses.  I drag my feet.  Yet, in moments of obedience I find that God is able.  There is an expression that I heard repeated once in an African American Church:  No food on the table?  God is able!

Calvin Miller puts it this way: A God big enough to make you afraid is powerful enough to accomplish all He is about to ask of you.

Amen to that.  And amen to the destruction of my comfort zone.

(Calvin Miller quotes from The Christ of Christmas: Readings for Advent)