Remaining Faithful Through the Confusion

Day 10

Scripture

Luke 1:39-45

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Devotional

Mary had just been told by an angel she would become pregnant through the Holy Spirit. She also was told by the angel that her relative Elizabeth was six months pregnant, even though Elizabeth was well beyond childbearing age and thought to be barren.

So Mary immediately packs her bags and heads off to see Elizabeth.  Why?

One, Mary probably found the news of Elizabeth’s pregnancy in her advanced age almost as miraculous as her own and so she wants to confirm the news in person. Two, because Mary had a humble servant’s heart, she probably wanted to help Elizabeth through the last few months of her pregnancy. Three, Mary might have just wanted to get away for awhile to sort through everything that she had just been told and experienced.  

Though Mary, by faith, readily accepted the news delivered by the angel, certainly she felt some fear and confusion. How would she explain her pregnancy to her betrothed, Joseph.

Or to her family and friends. An unmarried woman found to be with child would certainly bring serious consequences. Joseph would probably leave her. Her family and friends may shun her. She could even be stoned. How could God’s plan for her come to be with all this.

But as soon as Mary arrives and greets Elizabeth, both Elizabeth and her baby are filled with the Holy Spirit, and Elizabeth exclaims, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

There’s no way Elizabeth could have known Mary was pregnant except through the Holy Spirit. This was truly a God moment, and Mary certainly was reassured that what God had spoken through the angel was true.

Mary, though she may have had her fears and doubts, by faith trusted that God would provide a way when there seemed to be no way. 

God does not call the faithful to a task and then leave us alone to work through it all. He walks with us every step of the way through the Holy Spirit, and when we fear or doubt, he puts people or opportunities in our path to help reassure us and to help us achieve that task.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, pour your Holy Spirit on us and give us the faith to overcome any fears or doubts we may have when the road ahead seems too hard to maneuver. Lord, help us to see the people and opportunities you have placed in our path to help us along this journey of faith.

Challenge

Seek God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and allow His Spirit to guide and strengthen you in all your endeavors. Be faithful to God and He will be faithful to you always and will walk with you, even when you have fears or doubts.

By Dave Matthews