Extraordinary Things Through Ordinary People

What if the most extraordinary work God wants to do in the world isn't waiting for perfect people, but simply available ones? This exploration of the Christmas story reveals a stunning pattern: God consistently chooses ordinary, overlooked individuals to carry out His most important work. From Mary's courageous 'yes' despite her youth and uncertainty, to the shepherds—society's outcasts—receiving heaven's first birth announcement, we see that God's favor doesn't rest on the flawless, but on the faithful. The contrast between Zechariah's doubt ('How can I be sure?') and Mary's faith ('How will this be?') shows us that God isn't looking for people who have it all figured out; He's looking for hearts willing to trust Him even when the path ahead is unclear. The virgin birth itself reminds us that Jesus came without sin, fully God and fully human, able to understand our struggles while having the power to save us. When we grasp that availability matters more than ability in God's economy, we realize that our willingness—not our qualifications—opens the door for God to do the impossible through us. The question isn't whether we're good enough, but whether we're willing enough to say, 'Lord, if You're willing to use me, I'm willing.'