And Mary Stored All These Things in Her Heart”
Have you ever received a clear and direct word from the Lord—and then doubted it?
Maybe He confirmed it through signs, miracles, or other people, but the skeptic in you still questioned it. Or perhaps the opinions of others made you wonder if you’d heard Him correctly.
I know that tension well.
When Jordan was in the NICU, I faced a lot of skepticism. I spent more than 20 hours a day by her side, convinced in my heart that my presence mattered deeply—for her and for me. Yet, I heard concerns from doctors, nurses, and social workers almost daily:
- “Just because you’re here doesn’t mean your baby will get better faster.”
- “Don’t burn yourself out, Mama.”
- “This is a marathon, not a sprint.”
- “Did you sleep here last night?”
- “Does she ever go home?”
- “Take care of yourself first.”
I understood their doubt. Logically, it made sense. But deep in my soul, I knew the Lord had called me to stay.
One day, while sitting in that tiny room with its endless monitors and alarms, I opened the book of Luke. It’s a story I’ve read countless times, but a familiar phrase stood out to me with fresh clarity:
“And Mary stored all these things in her heart.”
Faith grows stronger when we store God's promises in our hearts, holding onto His truth even when doubt whispers louder.
Mary knew what it was like to face opposition. Imagine the whispers, the gossip, the sideways glances. Imagine the doubt—even from those closest to her.
And yet, every time God confirmed His promise, Mary didn’t let those confirmations slip away. She stored them in her heart.
- An angel appeared to her (Luke 1:6-18).
- An angel appeared to Joseph, confirming her story (Matthew 1:18-24).
- Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, affirmed the promise (Luke 1:39-56).
- Simeon, guided by the Spirit, spoke prophetic words over her child (Luke 2:25-35).
- Anna, the prophetess, recognized and blessed the Messiah (Luke 2:36-38).
Each of these moments became an anchor for her faith, allowing her to stand firm against the inevitable doubt and resistance.
My strength isn’t my own
In the NICU, my strength wasn’t my own. On just four hours of sleep a night, perched in a rigid plastic recliner, I relied on God’s supernatural strength—and the prayers of a faithful community who lifted me up.
Humanly speaking, I couldn’t have made it through those two weeks. But with God, all things are possible.
As we approach Christmas, I find myself reflecting on Mary’s incredible faith. Do I trust God’s promises as she did? Do I store His confirmations in my heart—or do I let logic, skepticism, or others’ doubts talk me out of them?
Jesus said, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move,’ and it will move” (Matthew 17:20).
Do I believe that?
So now I ask you:
- What promises has God made to you?
- How many signs and miracles has He provided to confirm those promises?
- Have you stored them in your heart—or deflected them with doubt?
Take a moment this season to revisit those signs. Write them down. Pray over them. Store them in your heart.
Because when opposition comes—and it will—those promises will be your anchor.
