Wonder vs Ponder

At Christmas, Scripture invites us not only to wonder at what God has done, but also to ponder why He has done it. Wonder captures the moment—the angels singing, the star shining, the shepherds rushing in awe to the manger. It is the holy amazement that grips the heart when heaven breaks into earth.

But the Bible tells us that Mary did more than marvel. She pondered. She held these things close, turning them over in her heart, seeking meaning beneath the miracle. Wonder is immediate and joyful; pondering is patient and transformative. Wonder asks, “How can this be?” Pondering asks, “What does this mean for my life?”

Christmas faith matures when wonder leads to ponder. If we only wonder, the season becomes sentiment. If we ponder, the miracle takes root. The incarnation is not just something to admire—it is something to receive. God did not come merely to impress us, but to dwell with us, redeem us, and change us.

This Christmas, may we stand in awe of the child in the manger—and like Mary, quietly reflect on what it means that God chose humility over power, presence over distance, and love over fear. True worship begins in wonder, but it is completed in ponder.