Imagine being a woman who has lived blamelessly before the Lord all your life, yet you are looked upon with scorn and suspicion. The reason: You are childless in a culture that views barrenness as God’s judgment. And now you are old, beyond childbearing years.

You are destined to die in your disgrace, a shame so great that even having your husband, a priest in the temple, honored among his peers can’t erase it.

This is the story of Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah. But her story doesn’t end there.

God Does the Impossible

Elizabeth’s name means “God is my oath,” and scripture shows us she took her name to heart.

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, or the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

—Luke 1:5-6 (ESV)

Providentially, Zechariah was chosen by lot to burn incense before the Lord. While serving in the temple, the archangel Gabriel appeared to him, filling Zechariah with fear.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord.

—Luke 1:13-15a (ESV)

This child, Gabriel explained, would “go before Him [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elijah” to prepare people for the Lord’s advent. Too focused on the reality of their advanced age, Zechariah doubted God’s ability to fulfill this promise, so he was struck temporarily mute. But sure enough, Elizabeth soon after conceived and gave the glory to God.

“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

—Luke 1:25 (ESV)

Speaking Words of Truth and Life

Six months later, the angel Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth’s unwed cousin Mary and proclaimed yet another miraculous conception: Mary would become the mother of the Son of God, Jesus. The angel told Mary that her elderly cousin was also pregnant. Mary rushed to be with her.

Elizabeth would become the first person to confess Jesus as Lord and as having come in the flesh.

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” 

—Luke 1:41-43 (ESV)

Elizabeth didn’t greet her cousin by bragging about what God had done for her. She was “filled with the Holy Spirit” and instead focused on the miracle occurring within her cousin’s womb.

In this, Elizabeth demonstrated humility, grace, faith and an embracing of God’s providence. Gabriel called her son “great before the Lord,” but Elizabeth recognized—with reverence and, notably, without resentment—that her cousin’s son was the One who is greater. She knew Him to be her Lord.

What We Can Learn from Her

Elizabeth is a beautiful model of faithfulness and perseverance in the face of disappointment and shame. She teaches us to be humble, selfless and focused on the Lord instead of our circumstances. And He was the lifter of her head (Psalm 3:3), knowing John the Baptist’s preparation for ministry could not be entrusted to better hands.

The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

—Psalm 145:14 (ESV)

The last blessing Elizabeth spoke to Mary was, perhaps, a double blessing intended for her cousin as well as for herself.

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.

—Luke 1:45 (ESV)

Yes, Elizabeth was blessed, and she was also a blessing—both to the Lord and to others.

Be like Elizabeth. Encourage someone today. Speak a blessing over someone, even over a person you consider more blessed than yourself. Remain faithful even when your faith hasn’t been made sight. Elizabeth’s story shows us that God sees us and lifts us up in due time. He will do the same for you.

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This is Part 12 in a series about biblical women—some named, some not, some honorable, some less so. But all have earned a place in scripture, and all have important lessons to teach us.