“Two are better than one… For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.” Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (KJV)
When God began something new in Mary, He didn’t ask her to carry it alone. Mary had just received life-altering news: she would give birth to the Messiah. It was holy… but it was also heavy. Imagine the swirl inside her, wonder, fear, questions, and the weight of “Who will believe me?” Nazareth was small. Opinions were loud. Her calling put her in a vulnerable place.
So what does Mary do? She moves toward sisterhood.Luke says Mary “arose and went into the hill country, entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.” (Luke 1:39–40, KJV) Mary didn’t go looking for a crowd. She went looking for someone safe, someone who could hold the truth of what God was doing without shaming it, doubting it, or rushing it.
When Mary arrived, something powerful happened. Before Mary even explains herself, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Ghost and speaks confirmation, “Blessed art thou among women… and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” (Luke 1:42). That’s what sisterhood does, it doesn’t make you prove your pain or justify your calling. It says, “I see you. I believe God is at work in you.”
Sometimes we don’t need answers, we need affirmation. Sisterhood gives your faith a place to breathe. Mary’s song, rises right after Elizabeth’s encouragement (Luke 1:46–55). That’s not accidental. A supported woman often becomes a speaking woman. In the presence of a safe sister, Mary’s worship comes alive. Her voice becomes steady. Her courage becomes audible. Sisterhood creates space for your spirit to exhale.
Sisterhood helps you endure the “in-between, ”Luke also notes Mary stayed with Elizabeth “about three months” (Luke 1:56). That means Mary didn’t just visit for a moment, she stayed through a season. Because the calling didn’t get easier overnight. The questions didn’t disappear. But sisterhood helped Mary remain anchored while God unfolded the details. Sisterhood is not just celebration, it’s companionship in process.
Mary’s situation was like stepping into winter air, sharp, uncertain, and lonely. Elizabeth’s home became a warm room: not a place where the storm vanished, but a place where Mary could thaw, think, pray, and gather strength. Mary carried Jesus in her womb. But Elizabeth’s home became like a safe womb for Mary’s faith, a protected place where her calling could grow without being crushed by criticism. Sisterhood is where God often shields what He’s developing in you until it’s strong enough to face the world.
What can God teaches us about the need for sisterhood? God often confirms His promises through people. Isolation can make a calling feel like a burden. A faithful sister can keep you from quitting in the middle. Do you have an “Elizabeth”you can run to, someone spiritually safe and mature? Are you willing to be an Elizabeth for another woman, confirming, covering, and encouraging?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for showing me that I don’t have to walk alone. Lead me to sisters who will speak life, cover me in prayer, and help me stay steady in the in-between seasons. And make me that kind of sister to someone else.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
