In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth
– Luke 1:5-14
The Story of Elizabeth
Let’s talk about waiting. I know this is not everyone’s favorite topic, right? But if anyone knew about waiting, it was Elizabeth. Here was this amazing woman, described as righteous and blameless by God, yet she carried the deep ache of being childless—something that wasn’t just a personal heartache but a public one in her culture. And to top it off, she was old, which seemed to rule out any hope of having kids. But what’s so cool about Elizabeth is how she remained faithful, trusting God even when the years stretched on without an answer to her prayer for a child.
It’s easy to get frustrated when we’re waiting for something—whether it’s an answer to prayer, a dream we’ve been chasing, or clarity on what comes next. The temptation is to feel like God’s forgotten us or isn’t listening. But Elizabeth’s story is a powerful reminder that just because we’re waiting doesn’t mean God’s not working. Her faithfulness shows us that God’s timing may not match ours, but it’s always perfect.
When the angel finally delivered the good news to Zechariah that they were going to have a son, it wasn’t just any son. This was John the Baptist—the one who would prepare the way for Jesus. God had an incredible plan in the works all along! What looked like delay was actually part of a much bigger story. Elizabeth’s waiting wasn’t wasted—it was woven into God’s purpose.
When we’re in seasons of waiting, it’s easy to feel like nothing’s happening, but Elizabeth’s story reminds us to trust God’s process. He sees your faithfulness, He hears your prayers, and He’s not going to let your waiting go to waste. Stay faithful, keep trusting, and know that your story is part of something bigger.
Reflect
Take a moment to reflect on what you’re waiting for in your life right now. How can you trust God with the timing, even if it’s taking longer than you expected? Think about how Elizabeth’s faith can encourage you to remain steadfast and consider ways you can actively live out your faith as you wait for God’s perfect timing.
Prayer
Father, thank You for being present with me. Thank You that even in moments of waiting, you still have a plan for me and my life. Thank You for showing me Your character through Your Word. I know that I can trust You. In moments when I forget that You are working, would You remind me through Your Holy Spirit that You are here and that my waiting isn’t wasted? Thank You that Your plan for my life is better than my own. In Jesus’ name, Amen.