Have you ever wondered if God is listening to your prayers? Or felt like everyone else has had their prayers answered but you? You are not alone. In Luke 1, we meet Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, who is married to Zechariah, a Jewish priest. They were devout worshipers who had been married many years, praying and longing for a child. But now they were too old to have children.
Elizabeth must have experienced so much anxiety and
rejection because descendants were such an important part of her culture. But God was working His good kingdom purposes: at just the right time, the Lord gave Zechariah and Elizabeth a miraculous child. That child was John the Baptist, the chosen messenger of the Messiah. He would lead others toward Jesus, the only salvation from sin and death.
God’s answer to Elizabeth and Zechariah’s prayers was extraordinary. Elizabeth did not have an easy life—the shame of being childless for so long, a doubting husband who lost the ability to speak for several months (Luke 1:11-20), and being the mother of a child who was God’s messenger and would one day die a terrible death (Matthew 14:1-12). But God heard her prayers, and He was at work through it all.
So whether God answers your prayers with a no, yes, or wait, you can know He will answer and He is working His good kingdom purposes—to bring salvation to all who put their trust in Him (Romans 8:28-30). • Cindy Lee
• Have you waited a long time for a prayer to be answered?
• As Christians, what are some promises we can rest in as we wait for our prayers to be answered? (Check out Romans 8:26-30, Hebrews 4:14-16, and 1 Peter 5:7.)
But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.†Luke 1:13 (NLT)
Read Verses:
Genesis 3:15; Numbers 24:17; 2 Chronicles 22:10–23:11
Have you ever felt rejected? What happened? What did it feel like? Rejection comes in many forms: hurtful words from someone close to you,...
READ: PSALMS 19:1-4; 139:14; ISAIAH 40:26 There have been so many moments in my life as a Christian when I’ve doubted the existence of...
Relax your shoulders. Take a deep breath and let out the tension you’ve been holding. Feel any better? God calls Himself the God of...