#31 Mary the mother of Jesus-Saying Yes to a Higher Calling

I still remember the night I whispered a childish prayer for my future husband, never imagining the profound journey it would spark—a journey that led me to confront my deepest fears and finally say, 'No More Running.' In a candid sharing of my story, we walk through the transformative power of facing God's callings head-on, inspired by Mary the mother of Jesus. As I open up about once dreading the thought of marrying a preacher, you'll see how my tale weaves into the broader tapestry of embracing divine assignments with courage.

This episode is a heartfelt rally cry for those of us who've felt the pull to run when our purpose becomes clear. By examining how Mary's faith during her visitation and subsequent blessing from Elizabeth bolstered her resolve, we'll uncover the strength that comes from steadfast belief in God's plan. It's more than a personal narrative; it's a supportive guide for women wrestling with their potential, offering a glimpse into an exciting new venture designed to coach and uplift. Join me, Crystal Loyd, as we transition from avoidance to engagement, stepping confidently into the roles we're called to fulfill with trust and belief.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:07

Have you ever found yourself running? Running mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially and even running physically from things in this life. This is no More Running the podcast for women. Hello, I'm your host, crystal Lloyd, and I've been known to run and still find myself running from the things in this life. Running from God, His calling, his purpose for my life. Running from change that's within my control, that needs to be made, or any type of change. Running from hard or even good or even just simple little things in this life. And God said to me Crystal, if you will stop running and surrender, there are things that we can accomplish together. Maybe you find yourself running as I have. I want you to know that you're not alone. Let's go from running to no More Running together. Let's get started with prayer, holy Spirit, we invite you to be a part of the podcast, the lessons, the life coaching and the sharing of our stories. Let it be known today that you are God. God, help us to go from running in this life, from whatever it may be that we're running from, from running to no More Running. In Jesus' name, hello runners, I'm so excited that you're here. I am Crystal Lloyd, your host of no More Running, your expert, runner, speaker, life coach and now your mental health advocate. I'm so excited that you're here. I'm excited about today's podcast to share with you.

Speaker 1: 1:53

We are going to look at the mother Mary, the mother of Jesus. I've always, always loved just the history in the Bible about Mary, the mother of Jesus. But before we go there, I have a question for you Do you ever feel the urge to run? Well, yes, of course. Well, okay, then I want you to know you're not alone, because I'm still. I'm still working on that. We're working on that together. I still feel the urge to run sometimes when I get afraid or overwhelmed, or hard things come. So you're not alone. But do you ever feel the urge to run when God calls you to something or when God calls you to an assignment? Yes, I still feel that urge to run. I get afraid. I'm just like I don't know if I could do this. Lord, are you sure about this? I mean, I have all these doubts and fears.

Speaker 1: 3:11

But before we look at the mother Mary, the mother of Jesus, I want to tell you about a story is when I was praying, when I was younger. I was praying for my future husband and, honestly, I was praying because I knew the husbands that my mom had in her life and I knew that I wanted something different. I wanted something better for my life. So I was praying while I was reading my Bible. Maybe I had a little new testament. I don't even remember.

Speaker 1: 3:42

I didn't grow up in a Christian home, but I had gone to a small church in the set of projects that we lived in in the town that I'm from, and so I maybe had got a Bible through that church. I'm not even sure, but I was reading my Bible and I was praying for my future husband and I remember asking God to give me a man, a godly man, that will read his Bible with me, and innocently, you know, as a little girl, green was my favorite color, so I prayed and God who has green eyes? So I prayed that. Then here I am reading my Bible and I'm praying and I feel like God told me that I was going to marry a preacher. Well, I never told anybody, because at that point, who would believe me? Here I'm a young girl, a young abused little girl who wasn't believed in her abuse, so who would believe me? That God spoke to me that night and said you're going to marry a preacher and at first I want you to know that I was afraid. I was kind of taken back, like what you know just the fear of God speaking to me one and then God revealing to me his plans for my life. I didn't know what to do with that. I didn't have any body to talk to about that. So I ran and for years I even would say I will never marry a preacher. I will never marry a preacher. But I will tell you something secretly I wanted what God wanted for me and I wanted that husband that God had planned for me and I wanted the beautiful green eyes. So, anyways, I wanted to share that, because I'm not the best example, because I have felt that urge to run and I have ran several times in my life. That's why I tell you that I am your expert runner, because I am, I have, I've done it, I'm still working through it.

Speaker 1: 6:17

So I think Mary, the mother of Jesus, is a perfect example for us to look at. So I want you to go to Luke. So I have my Bible here and of course I use. The one I use is the NIV and the message together. I'm telling you this Bible is falling apart. I absolutely love it because I can read the NIV and then I can jump over right beside of it, I can jump over to the message and it kind of helps me understand what is being said. So I want you to look at Luke, chapter one, and then I want you to go to verse 26, and I want you to know that this is not a Bible study. This is just a couple verses that I want to look at and I feel like is a great example for us runners. So let's go down to verse chapter one. Luke, chapter one. Let's go down to verse 28.

Speaker 1: 7:20

The angel okay. So the angel came to Mary and the angel went to her and said greetings, you are highly favored, the Lord is with you. So here is the angel speaking to Mary, coming to Mary to tell her something here. Okay, because she was highly favored, the Lord is with you. Mary was greatly troubled. Okay, in my hearing the Lord, I was afraid. Okay, but Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to Mary do not be afraid, told her. So here, she's greatly troubled. He knows that she's afraid. Mary, you have found favor with God, you will be with child and give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus. And then it goes on to say it will be great and will be called the son of the most high. The Lord God will give you the throne of his father, david. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end.

Speaker 1: 8:44

And chapter one, verse 34, it says how will this be Like? Okay, so she doubted, or she feared. And then she doubts how would this be? Mary, asked the angel. Since I am a virgin, so Mary was. She was shaken up. You was like what? What's going on? I'm not understanding Lord, how can this, or angel, you know, how can this be? Mary? The angel is like Mary, you have nothing to fear. And I like how the message puts it God has a surprise for you. I like that. So I want to look at that. Mary was afraid and when we first hear the Lord calling us to something, we may have that urge to run and and and don't feel so guilty about that. Look, I mean, I think in in God's word it shows that Mary was afraid and that she even Probably doubted a little bit and even questioned the angel, like how is this gonna be? How's this gonna work out? You know, in my my, you know way, this is in crystals version. I guess. Hello, I'm a virgin here. How's this gonna happen? No one's gonna believe me in this. And you know, that's just like when God called me Back when I was a little girl and told me that I was gonna marry a preacher, I thought who's gonna believe me? I'm abused, a little girl. They didn't even believe me. When I told him I had been, I was getting abused. So who's gonna believe me? That? God spoke to me and told me this. I Never even said, I never even told anybody Other than I would say I'm never gonna marry a preacher, I'm never going to marry a preacher. But again, secretly, I hoped and wished For God's plan and purpose for my life, even if it meant marrying a preacher. But she here's, mary. She's greatly troubled, she doubted, she questioned, like how's this going to be? But because Mary? Because Mary chose not to run.

Speaker 1: 11:07

I want us to look at things okay First. I want us to fight the urge to run. Okay, you may always, when you first feel afraid or troubled, like Mary, you may feel that urge to run. But I want you to know that you can push back. You can push back that urge. You don't have to run, you can read God's word. Through God's word and through prayer, you can push back.

Speaker 1: 11:40

You know Satan wants us to run. He loves it when we run, especially from the assignment that God has given us. I mean, he's got us right where he's at if we go on the run and we stay on the run from God's assignment for our life. So, and then I will tell you this, like like John, and we have studied you know John, or looked at John On the podcast. You can go back and listen to those episodes. But look at John. He told John to go and instead of going he ran and Then storms came.

Speaker 1: 12:21

So remember that, buy that urge to run, because that's exactly where Satan wants you to be is on the run, and then Storms will come in your life Because of that running. So I want you to push back and know that you can push back. You do not have to run and you can. You can even say you know the angel knew that Mary was troubled and that she was afraid. That's why he said do not be afraid, so we can tell God, okay, god, okay, god. I'm afraid here I don't know what to do. Here I feel the urge to run God, but I believe that God is calling us women, especially women, to fight back, to push back the darkness, to push back the urge to run. So Think about that. Okay, I want you to think about that and I don't want you to run when God Caused you to an assignment, okay. So look at Mary. You look at that, study Mary, even more than what you know we are doing here on this podcast. But fight that urge to run, push back on that. I want us to go to, to Luke. Okay, you won't be with John Chipporca.

Speaker 1: 13:52

Luke, chapter 1, verse 38. Look at Mary here Now she has, you know, she's troubled, she's afraid, she's doubted, she's questioned. But then Luke 1, 38, and this is so good for us. Okay, fight the urge to run. And then Mary is such a Good example for us. I am the Lord servant. Mary answered may it be To me as you have said. Then the angel left her. So I love what Mary does here. It says I am the Lord servant. Mary answered may it be as you have said. Then the angel left her. That's Luke 1 338. I love that.

Speaker 1: 14:48

I love that right here in this verse it shows us that Mary surrendered to the assignment. She accepted the assignment, the holy, the, the heavenly assignment from the angel, from God, directly from God. He was the messenger, so this assignment is directly from God and then, as God calls us, it's directly from God. And so we have to fight that urge and then, just like Mary, she gives us a good example here. She's like I am the Lord servant, may it be, may it be to me, as you have said. Then the angel left her. Let Mary be her example. Surrender, accept the assignment, accept the assignment, the heavenly assignment that God has given to you. Okay, and then I want us to see, because she, she did not run and I believe God called her to that because he knew she would not run, but also that she accepted. He ultimately knew that she was going to accept the assignment. Even though she was afraid, even though she was troubled, she accepted the Eximate, the Assignment from the Lord.

Speaker 1: 16:28

Okay, so let's go on down and let's look here. Now she goes and she visits Mary, or she visits Mary, visits Elizabeth. So that's on down, verse 39 there, but it goes down. You know where she greets Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, which was John the Baptist. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed. She like oh, blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear. Okay, so I want you to see this Believe, I want you to believe in that assignment that God has given you.

Speaker 1: 17:20

Okay, you know, for me I was afraid. I didn't even know if I truly believed it or not. I never even told anybody else other than I will not marry a preacher. And do you know that I was always told never to marry, crystal. Never marry, never marry. But it was because of my family and marriages and the husbands that they had was always so very abusive, so they would teach me. They taught me never to marry. And I would say to them, to my family, not if you find the one God wants you to be with. Where did that come from? Only from the Holy Spirit is all I know, because I didn't have any woman in my life saying to pray for your future husband. To you know, if God speaks to you and tells you things, to believe them, to accept them. So all I know, is that came from the Holy Spirit. So, but that's what I would tell my family, not if you find the one, jesus, one God wants you to be with.

Speaker 1: 18:34

But I want you to look here Blessed are you among women. And down here, at verse 45, look here it says blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. Okay, so I want you to believe that if God has called you to something, he has called you to an assignment. He has given you instructions, like he did Jonah. I want you to believe. I want you to fight the urge to run, even though you're afraid, you doubt, you question. I Want you to surrender. I want you to accept that. Okay, god, I accept that. You know, just like Mary did in verse 138, she accepted her assignment. May it be to me as you have said. So here I am, lord, you know, I accept the calling, I accept the assignment. And then, because Mary believed, it says this in God's word, and I love this Blessed are you among women. And look, blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. And you too Will be blessed in believing what God has caused you to do. Believe it.

Speaker 1: 20:15

Don't let people Calls you to doubt your calling from the Lord, because you know exactly what the Lord has told you to do. You've prayed about this, you've talked to God, you have had Conversations. Let me tell you, when God called me to leave my banking job, we had some conversations. I'm like Lord, how's this gonna work? Just like Mary, how's this gonna work? I mean, this is where my incomes come from. For the past 12 years, every two weeks, I knew where the money was coming from. So, me and God, we had some conversations about this, but ultimately I accepted the Assignment that God had me to do, which was go, crystal go. And so here I'm going, living on faith over here. So Pray for me, but believe. Believe that God has called you to this assignment and because of Mary's belief, because of her believed belief, she was blessed. Blessed are you among women, blessed is she who has believed. I love this, I love that God gave this to me to give to you, and so I also want you to see something else about Mary.

Speaker 1: 21:43

Okay, is Mary remained faithful, and we too need to remain faithful. You know, mary didn't quite understand everything. She, she didn't know how it was gonna play out exactly, but she trusted and she believed and she remained Faithful. She remained close to Jesus. And you know there's a couple times that Mary and Joseph had to go on the run because of Herod, you know, killing the firstborn, and, and so they had to pick up their things and they had to go on the run and so, yeah, but she still remained faithful, even when, like, she didn't quite understand, or thinking about, you know, jesus, and they lost him, like you know, they were on their way back home and then here he wasn't with them, and then you know he's in the temple and she don't understand, like, why would you do this to us? We've been looking for you. And she didn't quite understand, but she remained faithful to her assignment, even, and to the death on the cross.

Speaker 1: 23:10

Can you imagine, as a mother, I would want to take my children and I have, I guess, in a sense have Try to shield my children Because they, you know I've been known to be a helicopter mom, but even I wanted to hurt, you know, shield them from the hurt that I went through, the abuse that I went through and then also the hurt that we went through through the church. I wanted to shield them, I wanted to protect them. I didn't want them to be hurt. Yeah, so, you know, mary, I Wonder sometimes if she didn't have that urge to just take Jesus and run and and protect him and hide him and not want him to go through what he had to go through. I mean, she was his mother, so I would think so. But she remained faithful, she did not run from her assignment and that's why I think she is the best example for us ladies.

Speaker 1: 24:24

Find that urge to run. You push back on that. You can push back. You know, through prayer, I mean through the power of the Holy Spirit, you can push back on that. Don't lay down, don't go running. And I'm not, I'm not and I loved on 317, you know, I'm not here to condemn you because you've ran, I've ran, I'm still fighting that urge to run, I'm working on it, we are working on it together. And then Surrender, accept that assignment, accept it, yes, lord, let it be so Just like Mary did. And then believe, you know, believe that God will fulfill that assignment Right here. I love it, book 145. I love God's word. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. Believe it, believe it. God has called you to this. Believe it and then remain faithful. I know you feel the urge to run, because I do. I still do.

Speaker 1: 25:44

I still struggle with even like I mean guest podcasts. I love them, I'm so excited, but I still feel the urge to run to record myself. You know I have fear, have anxiety of getting in front of this microphone, but I know that God has called me to this assignment. I know he has. And I told a lady. I went to my nephew's ballgame and I told an old friend that sometimes you know, in the podcast world they tell us we may never see if we help anybody and we got to just keep going on and even, like in the ministry, we may never know if we've even helped anybody at all. But we have to to fight the urge, push back of the urge to run, because we may never see or we may never know the results of what God is doing exactly through us. But even this week I've had ladies to to let me know that this podcast has has helped them and it has helped me knowing that, because then it helps me to fight that urge to run, because I'm like I know that you called me to this, god, I know that this is my assignment and I want to be here, I want to show up, I want to accept that heavenly assignment and I would believe that you will fulfill this assignment, that you will.

Speaker 1: 27:34

Okay, let's just go back to Luke 1.45, because I like how this is said. You, the Lord, has said to her, will be accomplished. I love that. I love that. I want to believe that what God has given me and my calling, and that God will it, will be accomplished. And then I want to remain faithful.

Speaker 1: 28:02

So let's look at Mary, the mother of Jesus, as her example. When we do want to run. Look, she was a little girl, she was a virgin. She's like how is this gonna happen? And Jesus oh God, you know, three in one the Holy Spirit, god, the angel, you know, tells her how it's gonna happen. He calms her fears. He fulfills the assignments through her and that I want to be used like that. I want God to use me. This is why I'm fighting the urge right now and pushing back and showing up for you, because I want to go from running to no more running in my life and I want to help you. All the runners that are out there that know, and maybe you are exactly like me it's like, oh, I fight this urge all the time to run. So I want to help you and I just pray that you will push back, because it's in you, you, it is in you to push back.

Speaker 1: 29:23

And and you know what I used to think that was a bad thing because, you know, I grew up in the projects. I had to fight my way and then I thought, you know, as a pastor's wife, I don't need to have this fight in me. But, honestly, god prepared me for this. He put that fight in me to push back Satan's lies and schemes you know to destroy. He put that in me to fight back.

Speaker 1: 29:57

So, fight back that urge to run, accept the assignment, believe in the assignment and believe God. He will accomplish his plans, his purpose, through you and friend, remain faithful, as Mary did all the way up to the cross, all the way up to the death of Jesus, her son I just cannot imagine and then even the resurrection, and then, even after he ascended into heaven and she saw him no more on earth, on this side, she remained faithful. So, please, friends, remain faithful and I hope and I'll all on these steps out in the show notes for you, because sometimes I know that the podcast can go so fast and then I'm not the greatest, greatest speaker, not the worst. I'm getting better but I will lay them out in the show notes for you because I want you to see this, I want you to see these steps, these examples that Mary, the mother of Jesus, has laid out for us. I love you, friends, and just know that you can push back the schemes of Satan. Oh, how he wants to kill. Well, still kill and destroy.

Speaker 1: 31:42

So push back, accept the assignment that God has given you and believe. He's called you to it and he will accomplish it through you and remain faithful. I love you, friends, and I hope you have a wonderful day, a wonderful month. And, oh, you want to stick around for the next guest podcast. Her name's Crystal too, so you'll have to stay with us and listen to that one as well. I'm excited and, hey, I'll see you next month for the word that God gives me.

Speaker 1: 32:24

So, until then, and then, hopefully, the thing that I'm working on, that will be happening in a few days I get to share with you soon as well, so be looking for that.

Speaker 1: 32:37

And also, I would love for you to leave a review, like and share the podcast so we can reach more and more women and help them to go from running to no more running in their walk, in their calling. And I would love to be your coach to help you. You know, you know what God's called you to do and I would help you. I would love to help you. You know, sit down with you, talk with you, talk about your calling and why you feel the urge to run. Let's go through those things together and then and I would love to help you to go from running to no more running in your calling, I love you, friends, until next time. Hey, don't forget, you can sign up for the no more running email list at info at crystalloycom and make sure to like, share and follow. We would love for you to leave a review for the podcast. This helps us reach even more women who might find themselves running as well. Got to run you.