It is easy to look at Mary’s song of praise through the lens of history and take for granted her joy at being chosen to be the mother of the Messiah. Looking through the lens of that moment however, as an unwed mother, having to explain to the man she was betrothed to that yes she was pregnant, but no she hadn’t been unfaithful, it took choosing to see beyond her present circumstances to rejoice. Yet rejoice she did because, despite the difficulties that faithfully trusting God may have brought into her life, the blessings of being chosen by Him and used by Him far surpassed the momentary difficulties she would experience. Mary was able to have joy because she chose to see the bigger picture of what God was going to do in her, through her and for her through the child she would give birth to, the fullness of which we will see when Jesus comes again.