Scripture
“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ Luke 1:38
In the Waiting
In the opening of Luke we come to a very familiar passage and event in the history of Christianity: the birth of our Savior. But, before we jump to His birth, there is much happening behind the scenes.
Elizabeth and her cousin Mary are 2 beautiful souls who know the pain, and the beauty, of waiting. I think these two women can give us much encouragement and much hope in the course of our own waiting on the Lord.
Elizabeth and Zacharias had given up on having children. Yet, God had a plan beyond their wildest imaginations. The parents of John the Baptist? What an amazing miracle. But, oh the years of waiting! The pain of barrenness! Would Elizabeth say it was worth all her pain if we were to ask her today? I believe she would. Faith is trusting that in the end, an eternity with our Savior will be worth all the pain and suffering that we’ve faced. He is worth it, friends!
Now what about Mary? She wasn’t barren, she didn’t spend years hoping and praying for a child. No, her time of painful waiting began after an angel visited her. Her period of waiting came after she learned of a miracle taking place within her own womb. Her time of waiting was just beginning as Elizabeth’s was coming to an end.
And what was Mary’s response? She responded with, “I am a servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
Oh, that we would respond to the biggest trials of our lives with such grace and humility and willingness to serve the Lord no matter what!!
Prayer
Oh God, make me more like Elizabeth and Mary in their painful times of waiting. I come to You with a willing heart, but sometimes the flesh is so weak. Strengthen me, in You, to be able to proclaim to You that I am Your servant, may it be done to me according to Your Word.
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