The Fine Art of Waiting

Since there is no church today, I have to make my own. I read Luke 1:5-24, 57-80, which is the account of John the Baptist's birth to Zechariah and Elizabeth. 

Even though I have read it before, what struck me this time was the fact that even though Zechariah and Elizabeth were really old (and she was barren - v.7), he was still asking for a son. While he is doing his thing as a priest, an angel shows up and says, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John." (13) 

Another thing that struck me about that passage is that the angel chose to visit him at a time when no one else was around (everybody was praying outside).

Sometimes, I think that my prayer requests have a statute of limitations. . .if the prayer hasn't been answered within my time frame (which varies, depending on how clogged my mind is with other, inconsequential crap), then it's time to quit praying about that issue. 

Clearly, God doesn't roll that way. He makes things happen according to His timeline of events. My requests may be completely legit. . .sincere, within the confines of His plan, reflecting the true, pure desires of my heart. . . but if it's not the right time, it's not the right now. It doesn't mean I give up, which I do too easily.

If it is really important to me - my heart's desires, which I believe are reflective of the person God created me to be - then, I need to keep on praying. Zechariah continued to pray for a son even when it was, by all worldly definitions, impossible. Thus, my continued prayer does not mean that I will eventually wear God down and get what I want (which is what kids will try to do to their parents). It is a practical application of the true meaning of faith - belief, especially in the absence of reason.

First, belief does not mean getting everything, or anything for that matter, that you want. God is not Santa. Belief means that you continue to present your requests to God because a) that's what He tell you to do, and b) you know that He is all-powerful and all-knowledgeable and will make the best decision. 

Secondly, faith means believing even when, and sometimes especially when, something that the world calls "common sense" fails. God's sense is not common; it's extraordinary, and His Reason is perfect. And so, by reading about Zechariah today, I am encouraged to know that the honest desires of my heart are not annoyances to Him. In fact, my repeated requests make Him smile. And I truly believe that He will honor the desires that are pure and righteous (devoid of personal gain or pride). My job is to be patient.