The angel answered, “The Holy
Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So
the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Even
Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who
was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from
God will ever fail.” Luke
1.35-37 (NIV)
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Have
you ever speculated what it must have been like for Mary to have an angel tell
her that she was going to have a baby?
I wonder
if Mary felt like she’d stepped into the twilight zone. One day she is going about her normal teenage
duties and the next she’s had an encounter with an angel that will change the
course of her life forever!
In the
blink of an eye, an angel’s appearance, a few shocking words and her world was
turned upside down.
Did Mary
replay the angel’s conversation in her head over and over? Did she press her hand against her stomach and
wonder if there was a life already inside of her? Did she rehearse what she would say to her
parents when they discovered that she was pregnant? Did she wonder if she had really had a
conversation with an angel or if she was just going crazy?
In the midst of her questions, did it dawn on
her that someone else was in a similar unexpected situation? Could it be that was the reason why the angel
had told her about Elizabeth?
God knew
that Mary needed a friend, someone who knew and understood, with no
explanations needed. He knew she needed
validation, someone to affirm what God had said to her, so he sent her to
Elizabeth. He gave her a lifeline in her
world of upheaval and change.
God
throws us lifelines as well . . . in the
form of other believers. But do we grab
onto them or set them aside because it feels too risky. We're too afraid.
He
created us to need each other, to find support and encouragement, validation
and care. It’s God’s design. Friendships can be messy, difficult and
challenging but they’re worth the risk.
Remember,
God never intended for you to walk alone!
Heavenly Father,
Relationships can be hard,
disappointing and difficult. I find it
easier to withdraw and go it alone but that’s not Your desire for me. Help me to see beyond myself, to reach out
and take the risk because it’s Your plan for me and I trust You. Amen.
Dear Kristi,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this wonderful 'devotional'! I'd never thought how the angel's news that Elizabeth was pregnant also was such a validation to the truth Mary was hearing about herself. How amazing and perfect are God's plans. You have opened up some new thinking here for me and it's really touched my heart. I've enjoyed your 'devotionals' many times in the past, so keep bringing us these wonderful insights. I appreciate you.
Yours In Christ, Sandy Renaud