The ways of God are unsearchable. Mary meets Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, in her old age, was told she would conceive—a time when her body had already withered, and the ability to bear children was long gone. What can we learn from this?
Greetings to you in the great name of Emmanuel, our Lord JESUS CHRIST.
As we find ourselves in this Christmas and end-of-year season, I would like us to close the year by looking at these two women: Mary and Elizabeth. These women represent two groups of God’s children who are ready to receive their blessings very soon.
As we know, they were both God-fearing women—one was very old, and the other was still a young girl. Yet what’s amazing is that both received a message that went completely against their expectations.
Elizabeth, in her old age, was told she would become pregnant—at a time when her womb had dried up, when her reproductive years were far behind her, and thoughts of having a child had vanished from her mind. All she awaited was death. Yet suddenly, she received a message from the angel Gabriel that she would bear a son—not just any child, but a son who would be great.
Luke 1:15 – “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord…”
On the other hand, Mary, still a young girl recently betrothed—having never been with a man and without any thoughts of motherhood—also received a sudden message from the same angel Gabriel, telling her she would conceive and give birth to a child. And not just any child, but a great King whose kingdom would never end.
Upon hearing this, Mary didn’t hesitate. She set out on a journey to visit Elizabeth to hear her testimony, while also having her own testimony to share. She was filled with excitement.
Just imagine the conversation when they met. One might have said, “I thought I would only conceive after being with a man.” The other, “I thought I could only conceive when I was younger and fertile.” But it was at the most unexpected time that God appeared to them.
Even you today, if you are saved, might feel that you’re still too young for God to fulfill your purpose. You might think that for God to use you in His work, you need to reach a certain age, finish school, or gain experience first. But I want to tell you—remove those thoughts if you are a child of God.
Luke 1:37 – “For nothing is impossible with God.”
God’s ways are unsearchable. Mary never imagined she would conceive without being with a man—but it happened because Gabriel told her that nothing is impossible with God.
Likewise, the Lord can pour that same grace upon you. Who knows—maybe this very year, 2020, He has already set you up for a great breakthrough in your ministry or calling? Maybe you, who were once barren, will be given a child like Elizabeth? Or in your personal life—your own home, your own business? Even while still young, unschooled, unmarried—it’s possible. But all of that hinges on walking in God’s will.
On the other hand, you might feel it’s too late—your time has passed. You’ve waited long for something that hasn’t arrived, and you haven’t made visible progress. You don’t own anything, and even feeding yourself is hard. You’ve started to think it’s too late to begin again.
I want to tell you—even Elizabeth thought that way in her old age. But when her appointed time came, she conceived a hero of faith—John the Baptist, about whom Jesus testified:
Matthew 11:11 – “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.”
In the same way, you who are saved—who may feel barren in your ministry, business, or career—who knows? Maybe now is the very season God is conceiving that success within you. By the time the next year ends, you may have surpassed even your greatest expectations.
Galatians 4:27 – “For it is written: ‘Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.’”
But all of this comes only if you are walking in the path of God’s will. Elizabeth was described in the Bible as a righteous woman, blameless in all the Lord’s commandments:
Luke 1:6 – “Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.”
However, if you are outside of Christ, don’t expect such miracles in your life. It is best to end this year with the Lord, so that as the new year begins, the Lord also begins with you. And when He begins with you, He truly begins with you.
As we’ve seen, God’s ways are unsearchable. You may think it’s too early—or too late—but it might be the exact time for your breakthrough.
What you need to do is surrender your life to the Lord. This comes through true repentance—turning away from every sin without holding on to even one. If you’ve been a drunkard, say “enough.” If you’ve been sexually immoral, say “this ends today.” If you’ve been living with someone who is not your spouse, walk away. If you’ve been deceiving others, say “no more—I want a fresh start with God.”
Don’t repent just to get a car or a house—repent because your life needs Jesus Christ, and without Him, it is incomplete.
Once you’ve done this with all your heart, sincerely turning to Christ, know that God will see your heart. And once He sees that you’ve truly turned, He will forgive you and take the responsibility to draw you to Himself with great power.
John 1:12 – “But to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
That divine power will help you overcome the struggles you couldn’t conquer before and enable you to walk faithfully in salvation.
Then, to complete your salvation, seek to be baptized in the right way—by full immersion in water (John 3:23), and in the name of JESUS CHRIST as written in:
Acts 2:38 – “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
After that, the Holy Spirit will dwell with you forever—until your death, if the rapture hasn’t yet occurred. And all these blessings God gives to His children—blessings that come unexpectedly—will also be released upon you.
May the Lord greatly bless you.
Please share this message with others.
Shalom.