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At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Luke 1:39-45

This “visit” by Mary to her cousin took place during Elizabeth’s 6th month of pregnancy. Mary was a pregnant virgin…oh my! Elizabeth was living in a time and culture that scorned barren women! They were two disgraced women, one with disgrace removed, the other, will have to endure her disgrace a bit longer. Mary, a young, simple woman, engaged to be married, could have dismissed the heavy assignment placed upon her by Gabriel. Instead, Mary spoke the words, "I am the Lords servant, may your word to me be fulfilled."

Why did Mary rush to see her cousin? Could it be she needed the assurance from Elizabeth that, indeed, she was pregnant, even though in her heart she believed all that the angel Gabriel told her. She set out on the 90 mile journey from Nazareth to Judea. Mary was rewarded with assurance from Elizabeth when, with a loud voice she announced that Mary was “blessed” and that Mary believed the “promise of the Lord.”  

Assurance–one definition is “a joyous unwavering confidence of an intelligent faith, the security of a fearless trust.” Another is “a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise.”

Without doubt, we all seek assurance in all aspects of life-relationships, finances, job security, retirement, government, and especially in our beliefs about God. In the midst of a world filled with uneasiness and insecurity, the assurance of a secure relationship with God is one of the hallmarks of our Christian walk. Our assurance is based of our confidence in the promises and caring power of God.
I recently sought assurance that our new granddaughter would be born safely and without trouble to the child or the mother. I prayed for this for nearly 9 months! Would God knit these 300 little bones perfectly together? My assurance and the ability to sleep at night, came from my belief that God would answer my prayers.

What a gift a new baby is! We recently became grandparents to our second grandchild, a sweet little girl. Not much can come close to the heavenly feeling of holding a new infant in your arms. What proof of God's promise and caring power. Such a gift assures me of Gods love for his children.

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Blessed Assurance by Fanny Crosby has been stuck in my head going on 2 weeks now, so I went with it! Read the lyrics, it could well be something Mary would sing!

Father God,
We give our thanks for the indescribable promise of Jesus. Fill us with your calming assurance when we struggle, like Mary did, with our emotions and fears. With your guidance, we find our strength and direction. Bless all those who are struggling, especially during this holiday season.
Amen

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