Out of Comfort, Into Conflict

Luke 1:56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
 
THIS verse always stops me in my “tracks” so to speak. I know, it doesn’t sound like much, but it is very much.
    At Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s home Mary is in a very safe place. Elizabeth totally understands Mary’s sudden, miraculous pregnancy. The same thing has happened to Elizabeth! Zechariah, too, knows as Mary does what it is like to hear from and speak to an angel. They understand! To Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary’s growing tummy is not a threat but is God’s promise fulfilled. The faithful couple and the faithful virgin are walking the same road with their gracious God. They are certainly finding comfort, strength and assurance in each other.
    But when Mary goes home, life will change. The whispers will start and grow to shouts of condemnation. Questions will be asked. “Who is the father of your baby? Why
have you disgraced your family in such a way?” Of course, she can only answer with the “impossible” truth. Why not just stay with Elizabeth?
    Yes, in our view this sounds good, but it wouldn’t be good. That’s not what God wants her to do. Mary must go home to complete the betrothal time with Joseph – even to discover if he will still have her.  Here is one of the first steps of faith for the virgin mother of our Lord. She can stay with what she knows in comfort. Or she can step forward into God’s plan for her life.
    How will she have the strength to go down that uncertain road? How will she trust God? He has given her a mission but not a clear picture of everything she would encounter and endure. In truth, Mary needs that humility she mentioned earlier to believe God is in control of her life.
    You need it, too. God loves you. And he wants you to grow deeper in love with him. To do so, you need to let go of your “comfort” to journey down “uncomfortable” pathways with God leading the way.
    You may “like” where you are, even if it’s harmful to you because you know the place. In a way, it’s safe for you. But God wants you to let go of yourself and hold on to him. That’s where Mary is going. She’s walking down the rocky pathway with God because he has called her. Yes, this moment when Mary returned home, indeed, is “very much”.
 
Prayer: Grant me peace and faith, to walk steadfastly with you, Lord.