Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

Luke 1:18 (NIV)

 

Waiting on God can be frustrating.

Sometimes we have waited so long that we have lost faith and no longer believe God is with us. If we are struggling to cope with delays and disappointments, ask God for the grace to love and trust Him regardless of our circumstances. Do not be overtaken by anxiety, grief, or impatience. We can learn to accept unanswered prayers without feeling discouraged. Even when our prayers are not answered, we can continue to believe that God is good, caring, and faithful.

Despite their unfulfilled longings, Zechariah and Elizabeth continued to pray and believe God, even when things seem impossible (Luke 1:13).

Consider this for a moment: what if our unanswered prayers are part of God's larger plan, not only for our own lives, but for the lives of people around us? Then we are not the only ones waiting for God; God is also waiting for things to fall into place before responding. Zechariah wanted a son, but God desired a forerunner to prepare the way for His Son. They both got what they wanted.

Zechariah was surprised that God had finally answered his prayer.

The angel told Zechariah to name his son, John. It was to remind him and all of us that God is always gracious and merciful towards us. If God does not answer our prayers in the way we expect, we can still be certain that He is working His bigger purpose in our situations. God can make everything beautiful in His time.