"The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" (Luke 1:27-28).
"Highly favored one"; what a privilege to carry the Christ Child. The child within her was the one that would set her people free.
The Jewish people were under control of the Roman Empire. They expected the Anointed One would come and set their nation free from foreign rule and set up a kingdom on earth. They had passed over the scriptures that foretold the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. The glad news that she would carry the savior was colored with expectations of freedom and honor.
We are also favored because we also carry the Spirit of God in us (John 14:17; 2 Peter 1:4). But we also, like the Hebrew people, want and expect freedom from pain and suffering. We miss the fact that God offers us inner freedom and peace in the midst of suffering (John 17:15-16, 20-21).
But our suffering is not endless or pointless. God has a definite good purpose in all that he allows us to experience.
When we don't understand, we can trust.
