Advent - God Knows What He's AboutSample

Elizabeth and the Unexpected Child  

When I think of surprise birthday parties, it is typically the one having the birthday who is being surprised. When it comes to the birth of John the Baptist, it is Elizabeth who is surprised!

“How kind the Lord is,” she exclaimed, “to take away my disgrace of having no children.” (Luke 1:25)

When her relative Mary comes to visit Elizabeth in her sweet solitude, Elizabeth greets her with generous joy! Hear her blessings:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! . . . blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:42, 45)

When we are jostled by some unexpected event in our lives, whatever is in us is what spills out. What flows from Elizabeth’s life is confidence in God, encouragement for Mary, and the recognition that God is at work in unusual ways.

Elizabeth’s responses reveal that she is a woman who sees and embraces the will of God. After decades of barrenness, she conceives! And she gives God the credit and the glory, living her happy hallelujah in her hiddenness. 

Then Mary comes to visit. I can only imagine how Elizabeth encouraged this young woman. I assume there were few if any who understood and believed Mary’s pregnancy was miraculous. Yet Elizabeth “got it.” She acknowledged and celebrated both the mother and her child and  sent Mary on her way triple blessed!

I want to emulate Elizabeth in how she perceives and celebrates the work of God in her life and in the life of another. Surely she recognizes His ways because she knows Him so well. May the Lord also fill us with His Holy Spirit so that our own blessings overflow into the lives of others.

Dr. Shawn Shannon
Spiritual Life Director, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor