Christmas music is everywhere this time of year—floating over store aisles, playing from car radios, and filling our homes with messages of grace and forgiveness. Sometimes we don’t even realize how deeply these songs speak to us. One moment we’re in aisle four picking out socks for Uncle Bob, swaying to O Holy Night, and the next we’re thinking about the true meaning of Christmas. Even Aunt Susie’s unforgettable Christmas sweater can’t distract us from the reminders of God’s love woven through these melodies.

Songs like Mary, Did You Know? center our hearts on Jesus’ identity and invite us to reflect on how God was working during that first Christmas. Luke tells us that Mary herself was pondering these things. In Luke 2:19 we read, “But Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.”

And who could blame her? In just a few months, Mary had been visited by an angel, discovered she would carry the Messiah, traveled to Bethlehem for the census, and welcomed her newborn Son. Shepherds arrived with astonishing stories, and prophetic words were spoken over her child. If it happened today, it would dominate every news channel. Yet Mary simply held these moments in her heart, trying to understand what God was doing.

You may find yourself wondering the same thing this Christmas. Life is full—sometimes overwhelming—and all the activity, both good and bad, might leave you asking, What is God doing in my life right now?

As you pause and reflect, remember this: God is working, even when you can’t see the full picture. His plans are always good, always purposeful, and always filled with grace. Just as He was at work in Mary’s story, He is at work in yours.

If this encouraged you, please consider sharing this post to spread a little hope this season.