His Promise

What does God’s promise fulfilled look like to you?

In this season of Advent we travel with Mary to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth. There is both the infinitely salvific promise begun within Mary, a mere 14, but also the one now visible with Elizabeth believed to be well in her 70s. Like Mary, Elizabeth received her news with an angelic proclamation, and in circumstances when natural conception seemed inconceivable. In contrast, however, Elizabeth had spent a lifetime wrestling faithfully with her desire to be a mother and undoubtedly questioning the working out of God’s will for her life. Yet, here they were together two women promised the seemingly impossible joyfully awaiting its fulfillment.

I remember so clearly the joy my cousin and I shared in discovering that we were both expecting our first child at the same time. Having grown up much like sisters, we had experienced both the wonder and angst of childhood together. Hopes longed for, and prayers lifted became real when confided with one another. This sororal bond and spiritual friendship serve as the backdrop to the scene that I have long imagined when Mary and Elizabeth meet. And here, Elizabeth was not only a first witness to God’s promise in Mary but also a confirmation of a promise to Mary.

Still this is just the beginning of the working out of God’s promise. Each as mother, one to a prophet and forerunner and the other to the messiah would need to be patient and continuously surrender to God’s will. However, this internal wrestling with just how God’s promise is accomplished should not to be confused with a lack of faith. For, it is difficult to guide someone content to not entreat assistance or who is not willing to participate in the unfolding of their lives. Rather, it is the seeking and discerning heart that is most inclined to growth and transformation.

Perhaps there is a question in your life today that you grapple with, ‘pondering’ as it were just how God will choose to answer. Or even whether or not He chooses to answer it. Do not loose faith but instead you may find consolation in the fact that you are in very good company. For while His promise may be humbly proclaimed in the silence of our hearts and like Elizabeth take a lifetime to be revealed, it is only in the seeking and wrestling that we can give our own fiat to God.