Thursday, January 8, 2026

Have you ever been asked to do something, and your first response is to question how in the world you're supposed to do it? But deep down beneath the doubt, you feel something tugging at you … almost inviting you to leap in and say, “Yes! I’ll do it!”

Me too.

When these questions come from a place that involves your purpose, that tug isn’t random. It's woven into you by God himself (Psalm 139:13–14).

Long before the invitation ever reached your ears, God knew your heart would recognize his voice, and you’d feel that pull toward the life he made you for.

But here's the thing: we still get to choose. We can say “yes” or “no.” And I believe our “nos” come from fear. Fear can build in places that try to convince us God won’t show up or we’re not enough. It can be shaped by a world that whispers limits where God speaks possibilities.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew that tension too. When Gabriel appeared and told her she would give birth to the Messiah, her first reaction wasn’t a poetic prayer; it was a practical question:

Luke 1:34
“But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

She didn’t understand. She didn’t have clarity. But she did have trust. And her next words became one of the most courageous “yeses” in Scripture:

Luke 1:38
“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Mary says yes before she fully understands. Then, Scripture shows us a simple “few days later” (Luke 1:39) when we hear her speak again, and what rises up isn’t anxiety, it’s adoration.

Her Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) pours out as worship from a surrendered heart. Mary reminds us that God doesn't always offer perfect clarity; he asks for willing hearts.

Let her courage challenge you.

The next time you feel that knot of anxiety rise around a "yes" God is inviting you into, pause and shift your posture. Instead of spiraling into fear, let your heart move toward praise. Thank God for trusting you with something that matters, for giving you the chance to do what he created you to do.

Because the truth is, you and I don't have to understand the whole story to say yes. We only need to trust the One who's writing it.

Questions:
Where is God inviting you to obey before you fully understand? What would it look like to say yes today?

Next Steps:
Take five quiet minutes today to name the “yes” God might be inviting you into—big or small. Write it down, surrender it to him, and turn any worry you may feel into a prayer of praise. Ask God to help you trust his story more than your need for certainty.

This post was written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content for the Daily LivingItOut.

21 Days of Prayer and Fasting - Day 4

Today’s Prayer Focus: To Surrender to Him 

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for all you have given me: all the time, resources, relationships, and abilities. I now give them back to you. I surrender it all. I am only a steward—it all belongs to you. God, guide my actions. Help me to listen for and obey your directions. Teach me to trust you and use what you have given me according to your will. May your will be done in me and through me. Amen.

Read more about Mary: Obedience Before Understanding

Scripture: Luke 1:26–38; Luke 1:46–55

Series Theme Verse:

Psalm 40:8
I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.