Mary and Elizabeth had a shared journey. Culture would say that one woman was pregnant too late, while the other was pregnant too soon. But both pregnancies were God-given. As Gabriel told Mary she would be the mother of Jesus, he also gave her a sign. Elizabeth was pregnant.
Luke 1: 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month… 39 A few days later, Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. [1]
When Mary agreed to the Lord’s plan, she put her future marriage at risk. People would accuse her of being immoral and shame her. They knew how babies were made, and her story would sound too fantastic to be true. It wouldn’t be an easy life.
God Provided Encouragement
But there would be one person who would understand Mary’s supernatural pregnancy. God provided Elizabeth, who was experiencing a pregnancy that should not have happened. Luke 1:25 “How kind the Lord is!” she (Elizabeth) exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”[2] Elizabeth would be Mary’s support for the first three months of her pregnancy.
Mary was willing to walk about 50 miles to be with Elizabeth. We know God promises to always be with us, but God also provides others to encourage us. 1 Thessalonians 5: 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.[3] The lives of Elizabeth and Mary were intertwined as they encouraged one another.
The Apostle Paul had wisdom for the church. Romans 12: 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.[4] Somewhere along the line of my leadership training, I heard a saying: “A joy shared is doubled; a sorrow shared is halved.” I have found this to be very accurate.
There is joy between these two women as they share the awe of their pregnancies. They could also encourage each other as they faced negative comments from the neighbors.
Who Can You Encourage?
God has given us the gift of the church so that we can encourage each other along our journey of faith. Hebrews 10: 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. [5]
We live in a chaotic culture that seems to grow crazier by the day. Life can be discouraging. Who can you give a kind word to today? How can you encourage those you interact with? It may be as simple as a smile at the grocery checker. We are on a shared journey. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gift-of-relationships
[1-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.