‘Tis the Season of Waiting

Day 3

Scripture

 Luke 1:5-10

During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to become pregnant and they both were very old. One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God because his priestly division was on duty. Following the customs of priestly service, he was chosen by lottery to go into the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense. All the people who gathered to worship were praying outside during this hour of incense offering.

Devotional

There was in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachariah, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordnances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

The Advent season is a time of waiting. We wait in long lines, for orders to ship, for family gatherings, and we wait on God’s peace and encouragement. I can remember when my husband, Chuck, and I were trying to conceive our first son, Tobey. It was so devastating –month after month having negative results. The anticipation and then the devastation of seeing that negative line was almost too much at times. 

Zachariah and Elizabeth understood what it felt like to wait for peace and encouragement. Although both were from priestly lines, and lived righteous and blameless before the Lord, Elizabeth was unable to have children. Often we’re deprived of something in the here and now because God has something better for us in the future. Zachariah and Elizabeth wanted a child and faithfully prayed for one, but what they received was more than they could have imagined - a prophet.

Advent means coming. Something we look forward to, but that’s not here yet. How many times I have felt that God is running late in my life. I have often wished in my life that the Lord would so something and do it faster, or in my time. I wanted nothing more than to be a mother and to feel the movement of a child in my own womb.

But, God knew the timing wasn’t right yet, and He knew Chuck and I needed to be settled as a newly wed couple. I needed that time to focus on being a stepmom to Tyler and Jenna. Meanwhile, we served God faithfully never giving up hope that someday God would grant us a child. We prayed for peace and encouragement often, and God gave us peace and we were encouraged by many people who had no clue we were struggling. 

This may be a season of waiting for you. Maybe even a long season of waiting…But God is still in control.

Prayer

Dear God, Thank you for always showing up on time and for always fulfilling every promise you’ve ever made. For having every detail of my life already worked out and in your loving hands. Help me to trust in your perfect timing through this season and into the new year. Amen.

Challenge

Take a moment to think of a time when you wanted something that God said no too. Can you answer why God might’ve said no? Did something better come from waiting? Keep looking forward to God answering your requests. We are only in the beginning of Advent, we have much to look forward to. 

By Amy Fenwick