A couple weeks ago I read Luke 1 and saw something I had never seen before.
Isn’t that one of the most incredible things about God’s Word? That you can read these stories so many times, yet there’s always new treasure and revelation to be found!
[Take a deep breath]
What are you waiting for?
I’m sure you could name a couple things that perhaps you’ve been waiting for for what seems like forever. It would appear that we are constantly longing for something as if our hearts knew no earthly thing could ever satisfy the deep desire within us.
In the first paragraphs of Luke’s account of the life of Jesus, we are introduced to two couples. Mary and Joseph, and Elizabeth and Zechariah. Two couples in two different spheres and life stages, but little did they know how God would use them in His rescue plan. God see’s both the young and the old; the somebodies and the nobodies; no one is ever disqualified from having an encounter with Him and being used by Him.
The first thing that caught my attention was that Mary and Elizabeth were in two different seasons of life. Mary was young and about to get married, while Elizabeth had been married for probably a couple decades. Elizabeth ached and pleaded with God for a child of her own for years. All the while an Angel confirmed Mary got the very thing Elizabeth was longing for within moments. How does that seem fair? Didn’t God see Elizabeth? Why wouldn’t God choose Elizabeth who was barren to bring forth the saviour of the world? I mean, He used barren wombs before to bring forth His promise, why wouldn’t He do it again?
I don’t know the answers to those questions. I don’t know why God chooses to do things the way He does, but I do know (from His track record) that His ways are so much better and higher than anything our limited minds could come up with.
God saw Mary. He saw her faithful servant heart. He saw her desire to love God with all her heart, soul and mind. God also saw Elizabeth. He saw the way she sacrificially loved her husband, and pursued God wholeheartedly. He saw her steadfastness not only in her faith and marriage, but also in her desire for a baby.
While Luke doesn’t give Mary’s significant other - Joseph - too much attention, he does write important details about Zechariah - Elizabeth’s husband.
Zechariah was a priest, and came from a long line of priests - “the priestly division of Abijah,” (verse 5). Now for some background on this:
Aaron - Moses’ brother - was the first priest of Israel. As the years went on Aaron’s descendants grew and since there were more men than jobs, King David divided the priests into 24 divisions to ensure that each group got their chance to serve in the Temple. Luke writes that “it happened to be Zechariah’s time to serve as priest before God in the order of his division,” (verse. 8). It is very possible due to the amount of priests serving at the time, that this was a once in a life time opportunity for Zechariah. While his division would serve twice a year, only one was chosen to burn incense for the week of service. Needless to say it was a big deal when Zechariah was chosen for the task, something he probably longed for for quite some time.
Elizabeth was waiting for a child of her own. Zechariah was waiting for his turn to enter into the Holy Place. Yet, the couple didn’t know how God was about to fulfill the two biggest desires of their hearts through their greatest longing of all - the Messiah.
It’s hard to imagine how the people of Israel felt while waiting for this promised Messiah. This so called Saviour was spoken of for 700 years at the time of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Why would God promise something and wait so long to fulfill it?
Any of this feel all too familiar? It’s been over 2000 years since Jesus walked the earth and proclaimed he would be coming back soon. It’s so easy to think “where are you God? Don’t you care?”
Again, I don’t have all the answers, but I remind myself that God’s ways are higher and that He is super intentional with everything He does. If we are not aware, we can rob ourselves of the miracle with a doubtful attitude. This is what happened to Zechariah. The time that had passed calloused his heart for believing the impossible could happen. He questioned and doubted the Angel who brought the news that he would be a dad, not on purpose perhaps; but like anyone who has gotten their hopes up for things, Zechariah wanted to be sure. He couldn’t bear getting his hopes up again, only for them to be disappointed. As a result of his attitude, Zechariah wasn’t able to speak until the birth of his son.
A barren woman waiting for a child of her own. A good man waiting for a once in a life time opportunity, and a nation waiting for the Messiah. Yet, in their waiting, unbeknownst to Zechariah and Elizabeth, God was orchestrating the fulfillment of their desires all through the coming of Jesus.
God’s timing was sweeter than anything Elizabeth and Zechariah could have dreamed up. Could it be that God in His all knowing abilities, perfectly planned out that the one time Zechariah would be in the Holy Place (burning the incense representing all the prayers of the nation) would be the moment that God answered his prayer to be a father; and usher in the Kingdom of God through the coming of the Messiah.
What’s easy to forget is that God is personal and cares deeply about the pains and longings in our hearts. How kind of God to show up to Zechariah, as he was faithfully serving God in the temple and answer a deep personal prayer he had lost hope in. Yes, God was there to fulfill a promise to a nation, but He first met with a man who had a deep longing.
In this time where the world waits for a miracle - for the promised Saviour to return - our hearts long for a little bit of hope. Yes, our hearts experience relief when that thing we have been hoping for finally comes to pass, but whether we know it or not, that very thing we have been longing for is only fully satisfied in Jesus, the Messiah.
Remember God doesn’t forget your prayers. He see’s you right where you are at and longs to meet your needs there. His timing is better than your own. He's everything you've been waiting for and He's better than anything you could dream.
Trust that where God has you is intentional and He wants to use you for something greater than what you have mapped out. Continue to be faithful. Keep asking. Keep seeking. You may just experience a miracle - one you couldn’t have dreamt up on your own.
Thanks for taking the time to read these words.
They were written with you in mind, but to be honest I’m speaking them right back to my own heart.
If we haven’t met, my name is Daysha! I am probably just like you in many respects. Someone who is trying to figure out life, her dreams, and her passions. Discovering who God called her to be, while cheering others on that same journey. A girl who struggles with insecurities, fears and shame. But who is showing up imperfectly for the glory of God and the good of others.
I love exploring new places, sipping on london fogs and having deep conversations around a fire.
Follow along the journey @daysha.albrecht
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