For Those Waiting

Read:

Luke 1:11-13, “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.’”

Think:

We don’t know much about Zechariah and Elizabeth except that he was a priest in the temple, and they battled infertility. We don’t see the whole picture, but we do know they prayed a desperate and repetitive prayer to God. And I imagine Elizabeth went to baby showers for her friends and cried on her way home after seeing all the adorable baby things that she couldn't have yet.

The Bible doesn't tell us exactly how long they waited only to hear, “Not yet,” but that waiting season changed them — just like it changes us. Waiting seasons are unavoidable; these unfulfilled yearnings develop inside of us. A desperation for something greater. A hope for something more.

God doesn't dismiss these wants; He sees you in the waiting. He hears your groaning prayers when you can’t even put words to it. He doesn’t grow weary, and your story doesn’t end in the waiting room. He is working. And even if you don’t see your situation changing immediately, you can trust that you are not alone.

Application:

Sometimes we feel alone and forgotten when we’re in a season of waiting. Who is someone you know who is waiting right now? What can you do to encourage them today?

Pray:

Jesus, help me to stand firm when I want to waver. Thank You that You are at work, and I can rest in You. Amen.