Today’s Reading: Psalm 111, 113, 115 & 116

How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! – Psalm 116:5

Who can be compared with the Lord our God,
who is enthroned on high?
He stoops to look down
on heaven and on earth…
He gives the childless woman a family,
making her a happy mother.
Praise the Lord! – Psalm 113:5-6,9

I want to sit in the story of Elizabeth one more day. She is far from a main character in the story of Jesus, but she is a main character in my story — so much so that I named my firstborn after her. It was important to me that Libby grow up knowing the story of Elizabeth. It is important to me that my daughters know that when others say it cannot be done, God has the power to say it WILL be done.

“YOU ARE BLESSED BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED THAT THE LORD WOULD DO WHAT HE SAID.”

This statement Elizabeth made to Mary is one of my favorite quotes from scripture (Luke 1:45). If I had a quote wall, Elizabeth would be on it twice — first for this statement and then secondly for her testimony of God’s faithfulness:

“How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” – Luke 1:25

Stop and consider with Elizabeth just how kind the Lord has been to you. God is so good and so compassionate and so loving. There is evidence of His kindness all over our lives. What has he taken away from you as an act of kindness? Was it shame from a sin committed or regret from a word spoken? Did he strengthen you for the consequences that could have destroyed you? Was He with you through the loneliness that left you feeling unloved and unvalued? Are you even now experiencing pain from an unbearable loss, or sickness that is taking away the life you loved?

Perhaps there is something in your life that is causing you pain. God might be willing to take that away from you, but consider the possibility that you are holding onto it so tightly that you have stopped clinging to Him. Perhaps it is time to offer everything to Him and let Him bless you with His kindness.

Elizabeth’s pain was probably even stronger than what I experienced when we were struggling to start a family. I knew that, with or without children, I would be involved in full-time ministry. Women today can choose a career or ministry in place of motherhood, and be valued for that decision. In those days, childbearing was considered the highest calling for a woman. Infertility was often paired with a social stigma or shame, often assuming God was not blessing a woman with a baby because of some kind of sin in her life. But Luke makes it clear that Elizabeth was found righteous in God’s sight.

In fact, Luke went on to say that Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. There are a few instances in the Old Testament when someone is described as being filled with the spirit of God, but there are only four people who were described in the gospels as being filled with the Holy Spirit: John the Baptist (1:16), Elizabeth (1:41), Zechariah (1:67), and Jesus (4:14). Once more, God poured out His blessing on this very special woman.

We serve a generous God, don’t we? He is involved in each unique life created, and loves us individually. When He sent His Son, He had you in mind. Even today, He is weaving your story into the story of Jesus, just like He did for Elizabeth.

Do you see this Prince of Peace, born in a manger, as being kind and faithful? That is what He is. The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay, was born out of the kindness and generosity of our Creator and He loves us with that same kindness today. Will you let him take away what you have been holding on to and leave faith in its place – faith that He will do what He says He will do, even when others say it can’t be done?

All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord!
He is your helper and your shield.
The Lord remembers us and will bless us…
He will bless those who fear the Lord,
both great and lowly.
May the Lord richly bless
both you and your children.
May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth. – Psalm 115:11-15

Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart
as I meet with his godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord! – Psalm 111:1-4