Faith requires an action

I started reading Luke today, and was stopped in my tracks by what happened to Mary. We are very familiar with the story where the angel Gabriel comes and visits Mary and announces that she is going to become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and have a son, the Messiah.

What struck me about this story was that Mary got up and went to Elizabeth. She didn't wait around to see if she was going to get her next period, or even longer - until she felt the first movement in her womb. She got up and went to Elizabeth.

Her faith in the promise from Gabriel was immediate.

I love how The Message version of Luke 1:39ff captures it:

Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped.

What I take away from this is that when God makes a promise, I don't need to wait until I start to see an inkling of action. I only need to act and believe.