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“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her.” Luke 1:39-56
I mentioned yesterday that perhaps Mary might have doubted the angel when he told her of her impending partum stage. Wouldn’t you have questioned a little further, knowing that children are conceived a certain way, requiring a certain act to occur, following the wedding hopefully? Mary was an unwed virgin when she was told she would bear Jesus, the son of God, and she went with it, blindly, openly, with faith. What is remarkable about this mystery also is that Elizabeth, her older cousin, believed the same to be true, without a doubt in sight!
How many times do we doubt the path God has us on? He ALWAYS amazes me, even when I expect something to happen, and He is pretty consistent in making Himself presently known, so to speak. For as many years as I can remember, God shows me the time 11:11 as a way to remind me that He is around. At 32, I still doubt His omnipresence, and I shouldn’t. Mary didn’t doubt the angel and Elizabeth didn’t doubt the Holy Spirit. As women, we should look to these two as role models for ourselves, young and old alike. Mary and Elizabeth’s faith reminds me of Saint Teresa of Calcutta and her unending drive to fulfill God’s wish that she help the poor, which we will approach more tomorrow.
I worry a lot about the future, and I think it is more common than not for women to be “worrywarts.” Elizabeth and Mary weren’t concerned with the outcome of what was happening to them other than it being God’s will and that was enough. Patience and faithfulness can be used to describe Mary and Elizabeth’s experience with God, and mothers especially should take note of that. Many things in this world are out of our control, but the Bible continuously tells us, Do not be afraid.
Reflect: Today, think of a time, preferably an ongoing struggle, in which you doubted God’s guidance.
Reflect: Are you trying to control something that is out of your control? Is it due to fear? Can you let go of it?
Act: While meditating on the decade of Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth, ask God to continue to guide you in His path, and for the courage to continue in prayer to glorify and trust His great works. Do not be afraid today.
