Find Your Relatives?

At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:41

Sometime ago, while I was in the University, we had an icebreaker session at the campus fellowship executive meeting by asking a rather strange but interesting question “If  you got pregnant today or as a young man you impregnate someone today, what would you do?” We had a number of interesting responses but one really jumped out at me, one lady simply said “I will tell my mummy, if there’s one person in this world who will understand, it’s my mummy” Most of us couldn’t say that. 

In reality, whenever things go really bad and it seems no one would understand, there is usually that one person in one corner who has probably gone through a similar experience and without talking too much they just get it. In fact, they will help you complete most of your sentences and provide words that can help you express what you are really feeling- they are the “Elizabeths” of your life. 

When Mary got the news that she was going to become pregnant, she agreed to it as a matter of God’s will but she couldn’t really wrap her head around the possible societal implications. But the angel gave a clue “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” Luke 1:36. 

So, while Mary was thinking about how she would carry a pregnancy that she was too young to bear, her relative Elizabeth is dealing with a pregnancy that she was too old to carry. 

What you are going through right now is not unique to you. The details might be specific to you but the pattern is not, someone else has walked this path before and all you need is to find that person and receive encouragement. How will you find them? The bible says “A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah and Elizabeth lived”. The angel gave a hint but Mary had to do the leg work of travelling about 150 km from Galilee to Judea, a journey of between 7 to 14 days. “But when she entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leapt within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Ask God to point you to your relative, your Elizabeth, and when he does take practical steps to connect with them and receive strength and encouragement. 

PRAYER