One area where women especially need wisdom is in their relationships with other women. Woman-to-woman relationships have the potential to be incredibly beautiful but they also have the potential to become rocky and competitive. However, as women of God, we are called to cultivate relationships that are genuine, supportive, and rooted in love. We have a beautiful example in the Bible.
Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who [h]believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Luke 1:39-45
These scriptures beautifully illustrate the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary. As relatives, they experienced a unique bond during a miraculous time in both their lives. Elizabeth, advanced in age and the wife of a priest was blessed with carrying a child after all the years of bareness. On the other hand, Mary was a young woman not yet married, without any particular status or pedigree, received the incredible news that God had chosen her to carry His Son.
What stands out about their relationship is the trust and mutual respect they shared. Mary sought comfort and security in Elizabeth, quickly going to her upon hearing of her own divine assignment. In turn, Elizabeth, sensitive to the leading of the Lord, welcomed Mary and affirmed the calling and purpose God had placed on her life.
Though they shared similarities, such as their miraculous pregnancies, they also had significant differences in their God-given assignments. They each lived their lives by the leading of the Lord. Elizabeth did not harbor resentment over having to wait many years for her own miracle while Mary, a young virgin, was chosen when she wasn’t seeking to get pregnant yet. Similarly, Mary did not resent the challenges of carrying a child as a virgin—a situation difficult for others to understand—while Elizabeth was celebrated by her family and friends. Both women recognized and embraced their roles, loving and supporting one another based on God’s purpose rather than personal expectations.
If we desire to build strong, healthy relationships with the women in our lives, whether family or friends, we must learn to accept them for who God created them to be and for the unique purpose He has for their lives. This mindset removes the pressure of imposing our expectations or attempting to change them to fit our desires. At the same time, it guards our hearts against comparison, envy, competition, or the temptation to imitate others. We embrace, encourage, and support the God-given call of life in the women in our lives! By doing so, we create the foundation for enduring, life-giving relationships that can bless us and others for years to come.
How are your relationships with the women in your life? Would you describe them as healthy, loving, and supportive? Or do they tend to become strained and rocky over time? Have you considered what might be at the heart of the issue? Could comparison, jealousy, or ungodly expectations be playing a role?
Have you ever asked your family or friends if they perceive you as loving and supportive?