Luke 1:39-56 records Mary’s visit to her cousin, Elizabeth, and the Holy Spirit giving the gift of knowledge to Elizabeth, revealing Mary’s child as the coming savior. Each woman was pregnant; their expected babies purposed by God for special callings. Elizabeth’s baby would become John the Baptist; a life dedicated to preparing the way of the Lord. Mary’s baby is Jesus, Savior of the World.

These women were in delicate, out-of-the-norm situations and could have been filled with anxiety and doubts. I have wondered what I would have felt if I had been either of these women. Elizabeth is past childbearing years, yet her cousin Mary is a young teenager. Elizabeth is married; Mary is single. Elizabeth has desired a child throughout her married life. Mary was newly facing expectations of marriage and family in her future. Elizabeth’s news would have been met with great joy and thankfulness. Mary’s news would have brought confusion, rejection, and conflict. Yet they both are known as women of faith and strength. They knew God had promised these babies and had a special purpose for each of them. Despite the unknowns, they firmly trusted God to see them through. Mary’s song of thanksgiving, in verses 46-55, is a beautiful acknowledgement of God’s favor and faithfulness poured out on her and the nation of Israel.

Have you prayed desperately and long for a desire of your heart, as Elizabeth? Have you found yourself in unexpected, even uncomfortable situations, like Mary? Did anxieties and worries, doubt and fear assail you? Some consider emotions as good or bad. Yet, our emotions were created as part of us and are neutral. What we do with them and how we allow them to control our behavior makes them good or bad. God’s concern is for us to understand and control our emotions. They are nothing to abhor or be ashamed of. Emotions inform us of our mental health, our relationships, and even of the world around us. They are a resource we can use to better understand ourselves and what we need to find peace.

The person of the Holy Spirit not only manifests rich emotions throughout Scripture, but also is given to the believer to help direct the believer’s emotional life. In Scripture we see the highs of exuberant worship and the depths of grief. We see righteous anger, as in Jesus’ treatment of those selling in the Temple, and we see the unrighteous anger of Cain as he kills his brother, Abel, due to jealousy. Our emotions can be controlled through submission to the Holy Spirit’s leading and used for good.

Galatians 5:22-23, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” Those who are in Christ are distinguished from unbelievers in that they have been gifted with the Holy Spirit, enabling them to bear fruit in their lives as a witness of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Though Elizabeth and Mary faced uncertainty, they walked in faithful trust of his leading. In any situation we are in, we can choose to live lives of faith and self-control. Faith often shows up best when we find ourselves in a struggle and have nothing to hang onto except faith. And faith is strengthened through trusting God in the tough times. Billy Graham is quoted as saying, “Mountain tops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys.” When facing the unknown, I encourage you to think of these women and their unwavering faith. Luke 1:45, “And blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”