When will we ever learn to trust in God’s timing?  We want what we want when we want it! We want it all and we want it now—whatever “it” is that occupies our hearts, minds, and souls.  Media does not help us in pursuit of wants.  Every commercial you hear is all about getting what sellers and promoters say we need and having it our way in the least amount of time.  Fast food is by the name food prepared fast so there are only seconds until we take that first bite.  The invention of the microwave was prompted by mankind’s inability to wait.  In fact, we are so impatient that when what we want finally does happen we sigh and shrug and decide we no longer want it.  It just wasn’t worth the wait.  What?!

Yes, we are a sad society who no longer patiently waits.  But we learn from the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth that God’s timing is best and waiting for it results in what is beyond our wildest dreams!  Great, unexpected, unsurpassed blessings happen to those who wait upon the Lord while living “honorably before God.” 

We also learn that when God acts—trust when and how He does it!  We learn not to question God who created all, is in all and is control over what the world needs most—to know Him and to love Him back.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Allowing God to be our guide begins with a commitment to trust. God cannot lead us where we will not follow.”

Luke 1, The Message

A Childless Couple Conceives

^5-7 During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.

^8-12 It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.

^13-15 But the angel reassured him, “Don’t fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He’ll achieve great stature with God.

^15-17 “He’ll drink neither wine nor beer. He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.”

¹⁸ Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.”

^19-20 But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.”

^21-22 Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn’t speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.

^23-25 When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn’t long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. “So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!” she said.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

BACKGROUND:  It was indeed a dark period of time for the nation of Israel. The people had heard no prophetic word from God for four hundred years—not since Malachi had promised the coming of Elijah (Malachi 4:5, 6). The spiritual leaders were shackled by tradition and, in some instances, corruption; and their king, Herod the Great, was a tyrant. He had nine (some say ten) wives, one of whom he had executed for no apparent reason. But no matter how dark the day, God always has His devoted and obedient people.  Zechariah and Elizabeth are two completely devoted to God even though saddened and shamed by the inability to have children.

We learn to trust and obey for there’s no other way to be blessed in the wait AND to be a blessing to others seeking God’s timing in their wait. 

We learn that a mighty strength comes from God as He builds His character within us as we wait—trusting in His timing!  Invite God into all the details of life.  Pray as Jesus taught, “May your Kingdom come, your will be done as it is in heaven.”  Those who know and pray this truth with trust in His will develop a wisdom for living that goes beyond human thinking.  A byproduct in prayer for God’s will be done develops a God given patience within us which is one of the “fruits” of His character we learn to bear.  (See Galatians 5)

When we live, “honorably before God,” assuming that God knows what lies ahead, our relationship and trust in Him grows exponentially by His Spirit’s power living in us.  So, trust Him—in every detail of life—trust God.  Isaiah passionately proclaims this truth:

“Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV

Did Zechariah forget this Isaiah passage when told that he would bear a son?  Maybe just for a little while…more later!

Lord,

There is much more to the story as we watch you work in the lives of this senior couple who is childless in the eyes of the world as you prepare them for the conception of John who will prepare the way for you, dear Jesus!  But the lesson you seem to want us to focus on today is waiting. 

Waiting on your will, in your time, for your purposes takes work.  Lord, thank you for speaking to my heart and renewing my strength in the wait in my life.  Thank you for teaching us patience in the wait. Thank you for renewing our minds so our response is gladness when the wait is over and your work is accomplished! 

Thank you, Lord for his couple’s faith example who trusted and honored you with their lives while being customarily dishonored in their community by their inability in their early years to have children.

This miracle and blessing of birth was just the beginning to your work of salvation for the world!  Wow!  Continue to teach us as we follow in your ways.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our strong deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord…

(Strength will Rise/Everlasting God by Brenton Brown)