“Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38).

The word “fiat” means “let it be done.” It is the word used in the Latin translation of Genesis, when God says, “Let there be light” (“fiat lux”), and of the Gospel of Luke, when Mary says, “Let it be done unto me” (“fiat mihi”). In both moments of salvation history, God’s divine grace and mercy break into our world and create a new path for his creation to know his love.

God did not tell Mary what was going to happen to her; rather, he (through his archangel Gabriel) asked her. She could have said no; it was a big ask! Instead, she agreed to align her will with the Father’s. She gave herself completely to her Creator: her plans, her expectations, her hopes, her body, and her future. In stunning surrender, Mary gave her “yes” and in that moment, God’s word became flesh and dwelt among us. 

None of us will be asked to bear and raise the Son of God. However, God asks us to do many things in our life, both big and small. It takes a lot of trust to respond. Whether it’s moving to a new city, making a career pivot, having a child, or stepping into self-employment, we never know that everything will be easy and work out exactly the way we want it to. In fact, we’re guaranteed to face challenges throughout our life. But giving God our fiat means placing it all in his hands—our family, our career, our life—and trusting him to take care of it all.

This Advent, the Catholic Women in Business team is exploring the many ways God calls us to cooperate with his will and how we can proclaim our own “fiat.” Join our writers as they share their personal and professional experiences, lessons learned, and reflections from Scripture and the saints on discernment, trust, and surrender.

Taryn DeLong is a Catholic wife and mother in North Carolina who encourages women to live out their feminine genius as co-president and managing editor of Catholic Women in Business, a FEMM fertility awareness instructor, and a contributor to publications for Catholic women. She enjoys curling up with a cup of Earl Grey and a good novel, playing the piano, and taking walks in the sunshine with her family. Connect with Taryn: Twitter • Instagram • Facebook • LinkedIn • Blog