The Jesse Tree: Day 20
THE WORDS OF ANOTHER WOMAN
One of the most recurring questions throughout the Bible is “Will God be believed?” In the silence, after God has spoken, will God be trusted to do what he says he will do?
It's these questions of belief that are rattling through Mary’s mind as she sits behind the wheel, heading upstate to visit Elizabeth.
In the complexity of Mary’s ordinary life, she’s feeling puzzled. Her faith is strong, until she stops at a red light only to get rear ended by doubt. She passes over mountain tops of hope that descend into valleys of dread; through blue skies of clarity that disappear behind a fog of confusion. Mary is traveling the well-trodden path of faith which continues to be as bumpy in the twenty-first century as it was in the first.
Just before setting off, the angel Gabriel told Mary she was going to give birth to a son, which caused her to ask the most logical of questions, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” In Gabriel's answer, he turns Mary’s attention in the direction of her relative Elizabeth (who has also miraculously conceived a son) and in so doing sends Mary off to visit her.
Soon the skies will clear, but not yet. Soon Mary will sing “The Magnificat” (Luke 1:46-55), but first she needs to hear from Elizabeth. She needs to hear from that one other person on the planet going through what she is going through. Mary needs to hear from a friend who is in the fight of faith with her.
The incredible thing is that it was through the words of an angel that the seed of Mary’s faith was planted, but it was through the words of another woman that Mary's faith blossomed.
And so, in a moment, the journey was over. As Elizabeth heard Mary at the door, her baby leaped within her and she was filled with the Holy Spirit, causing her to speak the precise words that Mary needed to hear.
Next time you find questions of belief rattling around in your mind. You may need an angel, but you may also need to jump in the car and hear from a friend. Don’t wait. Go. God’s given us brothers and sisters in Christ so we can navigate this journey together.
And remember, don’t waste your words this Christmas. Who knows what people have driven through to get to your door.
It's these questions of belief that are rattling through Mary’s mind as she sits behind the wheel, heading upstate to visit Elizabeth.
In the complexity of Mary’s ordinary life, she’s feeling puzzled. Her faith is strong, until she stops at a red light only to get rear ended by doubt. She passes over mountain tops of hope that descend into valleys of dread; through blue skies of clarity that disappear behind a fog of confusion. Mary is traveling the well-trodden path of faith which continues to be as bumpy in the twenty-first century as it was in the first.
Just before setting off, the angel Gabriel told Mary she was going to give birth to a son, which caused her to ask the most logical of questions, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” In Gabriel's answer, he turns Mary’s attention in the direction of her relative Elizabeth (who has also miraculously conceived a son) and in so doing sends Mary off to visit her.
Soon the skies will clear, but not yet. Soon Mary will sing “The Magnificat” (Luke 1:46-55), but first she needs to hear from Elizabeth. She needs to hear from that one other person on the planet going through what she is going through. Mary needs to hear from a friend who is in the fight of faith with her.
The incredible thing is that it was through the words of an angel that the seed of Mary’s faith was planted, but it was through the words of another woman that Mary's faith blossomed.
And so, in a moment, the journey was over. As Elizabeth heard Mary at the door, her baby leaped within her and she was filled with the Holy Spirit, causing her to speak the precise words that Mary needed to hear.
Next time you find questions of belief rattling around in your mind. You may need an angel, but you may also need to jump in the car and hear from a friend. Don’t wait. Go. God’s given us brothers and sisters in Christ so we can navigate this journey together.
And remember, don’t waste your words this Christmas. Who knows what people have driven through to get to your door.
Pause to reflect
Who are some of the people God has placed in your life to spur you on in your relationship with Christ? This Christmas, what is one way you can demonstrate your gratitude to them?
Pray that God would give you eyes to see, ears to hear, and the words to say to those around you this holiday season.
Pray that God would give you eyes to see, ears to hear, and the words to say to those around you this holiday season.
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