Have you ever felt like God is distant? Maybe He’s forgotten about you or doesn’t care enough to answer your prayers at the moment. Or maybe you know that He has perfect timing and is watching over you, but it feels like He’s moving at the speed of a snail. It’s easy to think, “When will God answer me? When will He show me that He really does care? Why did He let this happen to me?”
Even if you haven’t felt this way yet, I can almost guarantee you that you will experience it at some point. It’s a part of every Christian’s life. Now, I know that’s not a super encouraging way to start a Christmas post, but bear with me for a bit longer. I promise it gets more uplifting.
To give these questions some context, let’s go back to Luke 1:5-7. Although this is technically before the Christmas story, it’s an extremely important part of it. The verses say, “In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.”
Imagine yourself in Zechariah and Elizabeth’s position for a minute. In those times, having children was a very important part of family life. Without children, not only did you have no one to care for you when you were old, you also were typically viewed as judged by God. After all, if God was pleased with you, why wouldn’t He give you children to provide for you in old age?
As readers of the Bible, however, we’re told pretty explicitly that this was not a punishment from God. In fact, Zechariah and Elizabeth are described as blameless. But they might not have known that. It’s likely they were constantly struggling with questions about whether God was judging them and what they had done wrong. If God was happy with them, why would He have let them suffer like this?
Whether or not Zechariah and Elizabeth knew they found favor with God, it’s likely they persisted to pray, asking for a child, hoping that God would provide. But God let them reach old age, and Elizabeth was still barren. They probably felt pretty hopeless.
Does that sound familiar? Their position is actually pretty relatable for most Christians. At one point or another, you’re likely to find yourself feeling stuck. God has closed all the doors in your life, and He’s waiting a long time to open the next one. It can start to feel like He’s punishing you for something, or maybe He’s just forgotten that you’re struggling.
Interestingly, the Luke 1 story is reminiscent of Job. In that book, we find out that Job walked with God and was blameless. But God still allowed terrible things to happen to him and his family. Why?
If you read further along in Luke 1, you’ll see that Zechariah and Elizabeth’s story doesn’t end in despair. Luke 1:11-14 says, “Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth”.
After years of waiting and uncertainty, God gives them an answer. And not just a simple “I heard you”. God sends an angel to tell Zechariah that his prayers have been answered. Elizabeth will bear a child! And this was no ordinary child. John would be the final prophet that paved the way for Jesus. After hundreds of years of silence from God in terms of prophecies, Elizabeth’s child was the one that would break the silence!
Zechariah and Elizabeth continued to walk with God and trust him, even when things were hopeless. And God blessed them in a truly amazing way. Their son was the prophet who prepared the world for the ministry of Jesus. What if Zechariah and Elizabeth had given up, and forgotten about God? Or what if they had tried to force something against God’s will? They might never have seen the beauty that comes from God’s perfect timing.
This is a truly amazing story of God’s provision. Yes, it’s hard to trust God during the uncertainty. Yes, it’s hard to wait on His timing when everyone else seems to have instant gratification. And yes, it’s hard to believe that God will answer when He’s being silent. But the story of the birth of John shows us that God’s timing really is perfect. He hears your prayers, and He knows what you need and when you need it. It’s not always what you may want, but ultimately, it will work out so much better because God’s plan is perfect.
If you’re feeling lost and uncertain during this Advent season, remember Zechariah and Elizabeth’s story, as well as these words from Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Trust in God even when it’s hard. He always provides the best answer.
And remember, before the excitement of Luke 2 came the uncertainty of Luke 1.
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