Two days before I would find out I was pregnant with my son, Wells, I woke in the middle of the night with a strong sense that I needed to take a pregnancy test—it was negative. We had been trying to get pregnant for about 9 months, and I was growing weary of the process. Somehow, though, I still had a sense that this month was going to be different from the eight before. Sure enough, two days later, I tested again and got a positive! One of the best parts of learning you are pregnant is getting to share the good news with your people. It was perfect timing because I had dinner plans that week with my two best friends, and I couldn’t wait to tell them my news in person.
When the waiter made his way over to our table to take our order, my friend, Caitlyn, ordered a water and salad. I immediately looked at my other friend, Emily, with a suspicious grin on my face. “Caitlyn, why the heck are you ordering a water and a salad?” This was incredibly out of the ordinary for her, and she has a terrible poker face. She responded, “I’m pregnant.” Oh my goodness, we were thrilled! She knew that I had been praying for a positive pregnancy test for a while now, so I could tell she was trying to downplay her excitement out of respect for me and my feelings. I can’t tell you how excited I was to be able to look across the table at both of them and say, “ME TOO!” We laughed, we cried, we hugged, we thanked Jesus for such a sweet gift to be pregnant together. Later, we would learn that Caitlyn was not only pregnant with one baby, but pregnant with identical twin boys! Our boys were born almost exactly one month apart, and I still feel ridiculously blessed to get to walk so closely alongside my best friends in this season of life.
Mary’s experience learning that she was going to become a mom had a little more shock value. We all know the story. I’ve often thought about how Mary’s obedience and willingness to be used by God must have looked like sin to all her haters. I mean, I can only imagine the conversations happening behind her back. “Is Joseph really buying this whole virgin story? Are we?” We can’t know for sure how her family and community responded to the news of her pregnancy, but we do get a pretty good idea of how Elizabeth, her cousin, responded.
Shortly after the angel, Gabriel, visited Mary and told her God’s plan, she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who she had just learned was also pregnant (with John the Baptist). Elizabeth was known to be barren in her younger years, so learning that she was finally expecting a baby was very exciting for all of them! Mary and Elizabeth clearly had a special relationship, and Luke 1 gives us an idea of why.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
I like to think of Elizabeth as Mary’s ultimate hype woman. You just can’t convince me that Mary wasn’t in somewhat of a spiral at this point in her pregnancy. Just days before this interaction with Elizabeth, she had learned that the future she had envisioned for herself was completely unraveling. She would now become a mother, out of wedlock, to the Son of God—and what was Elizabeth telling her? She was blessed? Oh yeah, she was blessed. Elizabeth noticed and named the blessing of God on Mary’s life. In the midst of chaos and swirling thoughts, Elizabeth brought clarity and calm. I believe Elizabeth brought peace. I just wonder, who is your Elizabeth? Who in your life have you given access to notice and name the activity of God? To encourage you when you feel overwhelmed by your circumstances?
As I think about the times I felt the most peace in my own life this week, it was not the absence of conflict; it was the presence of a peacemaker. It was my mom bringing over chicken noodle soup when I was sick with strep and felt like I’d given all that I had to give. It was hugging my best friend and noticing and naming God’s blessings on our lives and believing he has more to give. It was adoring a sweet baby boy and singing songs of blessing over him. It was feeling my frustration melt away as my toddler finally surrendered to sleep in my arms, way past her bedtime, and then her quiet “I love you, Mom” as I placed her in bed.
Jesus, Prince of Peace, give us eyes to see your activity and boldness to proclaim it like Elizabeth. Allow us to be willing, like Mary, to be used by you to bring peace into this weary world.
Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.” Luke 1:78-79
The song below is a favorite of mine during Advent. Give it a listen!
Be encouraged, friends ❤
His Redeeming Pursuit 
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