I suppose, by now he was numb. The wait had been so long. It wasn’t always this way. In the beginning, when he first married his beautiful Elizabeth, there was such excitement and anticipation for their first child. Months passed, then years…his cry to God for a child increased, and so did the questions. “What have we done wrong?” “Others seem to conceive so easily. What is wrong with us?” As if his aching heart for a child and questions weren’t enough, Zacharias and Elizabeth also bore the reproach – the shame – that accompanied barrenness in their time. The whispers of others – though not always heard – were always felt…
What are you asking and waiting for God to do? Is it a child like Zacharias and Elizabeth? Is it your healing? Salvation or healing for a loved one? Financial help? Guidance?
For whatever you have been asking, hoping, and still waiting, take heart…
Why was Elizabeth barren year after year? Had she and Zacharias done something wrong? Had their actions (or lack of actions) kept the fulfillment of their desire for a child at bay? Luke 1:6 tells us “They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.” From this, we see the delay of their fulfilled desire wasn’t due to their sin or their lack of ‘doing something’ they should have been doing.
What about you? What about me? I do believe in examining our hearts regularly. 2 Corinthians 7:1 admonishes us to “cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” However, when the wait is long in our lives, and we are continually before the Lord with a pure, sincere desire to hear from Him, we can rest. We can rest, knowing if we are ‘missing something’, out of His great love, He will make sure we know it.
I imagine the temptation to compare themselves with others was regularly before Zacharias and Elizabeth. Surely, as a priest, Zacharias offered multiple sacrifices that parents brought to the temple (Leviticus 12:1-8, Luke 2:22-27) after bearing children. He would look into their eyes, seeing their joy and contentment and then, his eyes would turn downward, beholding the tiny face of their newborn. The ache in his heart would emerge from under the shadows once again, and the “Why?”s would resurface with it… As Elizabeth grew older, more and more of her female relatives were bearing children. She would assist with their births. Each time, she felt a mixture of happiness for them, yet renewed sadness for her own barrenness…
Nevertheless, strong in their faith, Zacharias and Elizabeth continually encouraged themselves in the Lord. They knew the faithfulness of their God. They knew His awesome power to deliver, to heal and open the womb. They knew the stories of their own ancestors – Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Rachel – and countless others for whom “God remembered” and opened their wombs. Yet, the wait was long…and couldn’t have been easy, and the questions lingered, “When?” “How long?”
When your and my wait is long, we, too, have to continually encourage ourselves in our God. We have to take time to meditate on Who God is and what He has said in His Word concerning our situation. We need to remind ourselves every day to thank Him for Who He Is, declaring with thanksgiving His promises to us, for He Is Truth, and everything He says is true. As we utter thanksgiving to Him, our faith – our assurance of Who He Is – is increased. We are also lifted to a place of protection – where Satan cannot reach us with doubts, fears, discouragement and negativity (Psalm 27:4-6).
ONE DAY
When the years for child-bearing eventually passed, there must have been a quiet resolve in Zacharias and Elizabeth’s hearts – along with the aching void in their lives – that the faithful God had not seen fit (for some reason) to bless them with a child.
Still, not knowing why, they remained faithful. Faithful to God and faithful to what He had put in front of them to do.
Then, one day, it happened. As Zacharias was performing his duties in the temple of the Lord, an angel appeared to him. Zacharias saw the angel and fear gripped him! The angel spoke, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and will give him the name John.”
“Do not be afraid…Your petition has been heard”!
For whatever you are waiting, for however long you have been waiting, take heart… your petition has been heard.
It is interesting to note that Zacharias’ answer came as he was faithfully performing his duties as a priest. There was no fanfare. There was nothing “out of the ordinary” he and Elizabeth were doing to finally warrant their answer. They were faithful. They were faithful. Day by day, they were faithful. And the answer came.
So, I am encouraging myself and any who will read this. Be faithful. Be faithful. Be faithful. Your petition has been heard by a faithful God and your answer is on its way…
“For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear,
Nor has the eye seen a God besides You,
Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.”
(Isaiah 64:4)
