When the Lord says “Pinky Promise,” He means it.
Our squad’s time in Zambia is almost over. In a few short days we’ll be on the road again, heading for Malawi. Our LAST African country before we go to Asia.
Wowza. That was fast.
The Lord has been so good to our team during our time here. He’s taught us about community and how the Body of Christ is meant to function in harmony. He’s shown us just how in control He is. He’s shown us just how well His strength covers our weaknesses.
On a personal level, the Lord’s been teaching me so much about His promises.
At the beginning of the month, I had a conversation with Amy, one of our squad leaders, about the first two stories in the book of Luke and how beautifully the Lord teaches us about His promises in them.
The book of Luke opens with the story of the angel Gabriel telling the future parents of John the Baptist, Zechariah and Elizabeth, that Elizabeth would soon become pregnant with a baby.
Zechariah’s first response is disbelief. He basically turns to Gabriel and says “How do I know you’re telling the truth?” Gabriel then tells Zechariah that he’ll be mute until the promise is fulfilled.
The very next story in Luke is Gabriel going to Mary to foretell the birth of Jesus. Mary’s response is different. She says “let it be.” She then goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Upon her arrival, Elizabeth says to Mary “And blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Mary is blessed for believing that the Lord comes through on His promises.
Here’s what I know.
Stiff arming the Lord and His promises didn’t serve Zechariah well. His disbelief made his days between the promise and the fulfillment more difficult.
For Zechariah that looked like being made mute. For us, it looks like uncertainty and fear. How much more boldly and freely can I walk through my days if I fully believe that what the Lord has spoken over me is true? If I know in the deepest part of my heart that my God keeps His promises? End of story. No ifs, ands, or buts. He just does. Because THAT is who He says He is. Why do we cripple ourselves by waiting in uncertainty?
In contrast, Mary is given a promise from the Lord through Gabriel and responds with full belief. Her immediate response to what the Lord tells her is “let it be.”
For Mary, the time between the promise and its fulfillment is filled with joy, peace, and anticipation. She believes that her promise is on the way and gets on with the business of praising the Lord in gratitude as if it had already been fulfilled.
Mary doesn’t have to wait for the fulfillment of her promise to embrace the joy it will bring. Neither do the people around her.
Mary believes in the truth of the Lord’s promise to her so much that she invites others to rejoice in it with her.
She goes to her cousin Elizabeth and together they celebrate the coming promises of the Lord. Elizabeth says to Mary “blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)
Mary is blessed by her belief in the promises the Lord gives her. Because she knows that what the Lord has spoken is coming, she walks through her days in peaceful and joyous certainty. She gets to celebrate with those closest to her what the Lord is doing in the days to come and the days at hand.
This month the Lord promised our team growth. He promised us new levels of community. He promised us purpose. And He came through.
This month the Lord promised me more joy and laughter. He promised me that I’d get to hear from Him in increasingly new ways. He promised me a challenge. And He came through.
Our God is good. He keeps His promises and does what He says He’ll do. You’re His kid and He wants to lavish you with His love by taking care of you.
End of story. No ifs, ands, or buts. He just does. Because THAT is who He says He is.
