The lesson of waiting on God was vividly depicted in the life of Elizabeth, introduced in the Gospel of St. Luke Chapter one [1]. Elizabeth was the wife of Zacharias the Priest, she was the cousin of Mary [The Mother of Jesus], she was the mother of John the Baptist and, "of the daughters of Aaron" [Luke 1:5].
Contributor: Natalee Bailey-Harrison
Elizabeth and her husband, Zacharias, the Priest were both righteous, committed people before the Lord. According to verse six [6] of Luke one [1], they were "walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless". Notwithstanding, Elizabeth was barren and beyond childbearing age. She was "already beyond the age of fertility, motherhood would almost be a miracle," writes Hans Bernd Altinger.
Elizabeth lived in a Jewish Society, where it was a requirement, a calling, a duty for a woman to give birth to a male child, who would provide for the family if the husband [Father] died. In those days having children was considered a sure sign of God's blessings and favour, while women who had no children were ridiculed and rejected by society. We heard Rachel's cry to her husband in Genesis 30:1 "Give me children, or I'll die!" and 'tasted' Hannah's "bitterness of soul" in 1 Samuels 1:10, because she had no children and "her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her" [1 Samuels 1:6].
The "childless" Elizabeth remained faithful to God and her husband Zacharias was diligent in serving the Lord. He "executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course" [St Luke 1:8]. Undoubtedly, Elizabeth and Zacharias must have spent years praying, hoping, and waiting upon the Lord to bless them with a child.
When the angel appeared unto Zacharias, the angel declared "Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John". Zacharias was doubtful that such a miracle could happen in his old age, but praise be to God "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" [James 5:16].
Hallelujah, Thank you, Lord, for answering our prayers in Your perfect time! |
Elizabeth was elated and humbled by God's unexpected blessings. "The Lord has done this for me", she declared, “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people” [V. 25]. Elizabeth had a marvelous reason to rejoice, the birth of her son [John the Baptist], would remove the cultural shame associated with being a barren woman. Her miraculous conception would lead to the fulfillment of prophecy [Isaiah 40:3] and presage the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah.
Six months into her pregnancy, Elizabeth experienced yet another miracle. Her cousin Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel, with the news that she would "conceive and bring forth a son and call his name Jesus" [V. 31]. When Mary visited Elizabeth in the sixth month of her pregnancy. the baby moved inside Elizabeth's womb, and she was "filled with the Holy Ghost" [V. 41]. Elizabeth, guided by the Holy Spirit dispenses blessings upon Mary “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" [V. 42]. Mary responds with songs of praise to God, "my soul doth magnify the Lord" [V. 46]. Here we encounter the indescribable joy that we can experience when we wait [actively and patiently] upon the Lord.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Waiting can be difficult...waiting on God to answer our prayers, waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting in traffic, waiting at the doctor's office, waiting for someone to say sorry, waiting to get married, and the list continues. The Bible, however, encourages us that God will strengthen our hearts while we wait [Psalm 27:14]. God will provide His guiding presence during the waiting period to accomplish His will in our lives. When Jesus instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised..." [Acts 1:4], this was an opportunity for them to experience God's promises of peace, power, and blessings.
Elizabeth prayed for a son and waited many years on the Lord to answer her prayers. Sometimes our waiting time is short, as in the case of Abraham telling his son Isaac that "God will provide a lamb for the burnt offering" [Genesis 22:8] or Lazarus' sisters Mary and Martha waiting for Jesus. Other times the waiting period is much longer, as with Hannah praying and waiting for God to bless her with a son, or Joesph waiting to be released from prison after he was wrongfully accused. However long or short the waiting, God remains faithful in His promises to us, and His timing is perfect!
The Angel declared that John the Baptist "shall be great in the sight of the Lord...and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb" [Luke 1:15]. Such a blessing! John was to go "before" and prepare the way for Jesus, as such Elizabeth could not have given birth earlier or later. This miraculous birth, this unexpected blessing was in perfect unison with God's plan.
Perhaps you have been waiting a long time for an answer to your prayer, don't lose hope, don't give up, “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” [Proverbs 3:5]. Spiritual waiting is an active reliance upon God, acknowledging that He has the sovereign control of EVERYTHING in your life. Don't sit passively, worrying and wondering if God is working, "worship while you wait."
THINKING IT OVER
What are some of the things you need to trust God with today?
Scripture insight: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" [Matthew 6:25-26]
How difficult is it for you to wait while God is working?
Scripture insight: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." [Romans 8:28]
"Scripture insight: "For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." [Habakkuk 2:3]
Is God taking too long to answer your prayers?
Scripture insight: "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." [Psalm 27:14]
Scripture insight: "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me and heard my cry." [Psalm 40:1]
PRAYER FOCUS
Ask God to give you a greater understanding of His will for your life.
Thank God for His faithfulness and for answering your prayers in the past.
Ask God to help you to trust your future into His hands.
Surrender all your times of waiting to the Lord and ask Him to give you contentment, where you are now.
Pray for family and loved ones struggling with varied circumstances, as they wait upon the Lord.
Amen!