LoriAnne Mullins

Do you remember being pregnant and hearing that phrase?

How about these: baby bump, baby on board, with child, carrying a baby, knocked up, or just plain pregnant?

No matter what phrases you heard or feelings you had during your pregnancy we understood the term, “She’s expecting”. And we would all have stories we’d enjoy sharing. It was no different in Christ’s time. While Mary’s story is at the forefront of Advent let’s turn our attention to Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin. 

She had no stories to share about a pregnancy. Not yet anyway. If she did, they were about disappointment or miscarriage. Elizabeth carried the pain of hope gone. Even though she was a good woman. Even though she had the body parts. And even though her husband was a respected priest. Scripture tells us she and her husband, Zechariah, were righteous and blameless before God. Yet, Elizabeth’s womb was shut. 

(Pause) 

THIS would be a disgrace in biblical culture.  Women were supposed to give birth. The social stigma that followed her would have been humiliating. So when it is finally confirmed she is expecting we can hear her heart as she says, 

 “This is the way the LORD has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me to take away my disgrace among people.”  Luke 1:25

Read that again. 

Elizabeth must have spent years dodging gossip among the people of her day. Yet she understood her life was held by the hands of an Almighty God. His way of dealing with her was His choice. You see, God’s purpose for Elizabeth was more than just about her womb. It was about His perfect plan to bring John, Jesus’ predecessor into the world. We read in Luke 1:14-17 about how John would bring great joy and gladness and how he would be a forerunner for Christ. These purposes were not understood by Elizabeth during the days and years she could not get pregnant. Similarly, we cannot comprehend all God’s purposes or why years can go by without answers. Yet God knows what we are able to carry on to completion. For Elizabeth this meant carrying a baby inside a womb that was thought to be dead. For us it may mean He’s lifting our shame, restoring our health or reviving a dream. It may even mean healing of an actual womb. Whatever His plans are we know God brings expectation out of the unexpected. 

What if God whispered something unexpected to your soul today? Would you listen?

All my hopes for you friend,

LoriAnne

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD.”Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Ephesians 2:10 NLT