It's His Timetable: Keep the Faith

When walking by faith, sight is not an option. Trusting in God keeps the focus on Him and His timing in answering.

Faith and trust in God can be quite difficult at times. The reason it can be quite difficult is that we don't know what God is doing. His ways are not only beyond our knowledge but beyond our understanding.

We read our Bibles and see scriptures that excite us and increase our faith. Yet, even as our faith grows, one thing remains a mystery: what does God have in store for us now and in the future? We don’t have a clue what our future holds. God knows, but we don’t.

To illustrate this uncertainty, let's take a quick look at Zachariah and Elizabeth. For years, they have prayed to God for a child, only to be disappointed time and time again. Having children at that time was a huge blessing and expected. Their hopes were high, but the results were the same—no children. What's God's plan?

I can imagine Zachariah and Elizabeth slowing down their prayer concerning children and their trying each year as they got older and older. At some point, the praying and the trying stopped. For Elizabeth, the age for childbearing has, in their minds, come to an end.

Elizabeth was even labeled barren. A label that people put on women who cannot have children. As I read the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth, here are some takeaways and thoughts to consider and meditate on.

Thought #1 - The prayer was heard

Question for you. If you were in the position of Elizabeth or Zachariah, at what age would you consider the possibility that you will not have children? Here's another question: if you were in their shoes, would you think God heard your prayer?

It's easy to answer these questions because you can read and examine the story. I want you to put yourself in their place. How long would you pray for children before you decide God is not listening? Some people chalk God's "non-activity" as a no. However, that’s not the case with God.

Here's the thing about God: inactivity doesn't mean no. Inactivity doesn't mean He didn't hear you. When Gabriel, the angel, visited Zachariah, he made a very important statement. He said, “Do not be afraid, Zachariah, for your prayer is heard.”

I know it didn’t take all those years for Zachariah’s prayer to get to God’s ear. No, God heard that prayer before Zachariah prayed it. Why did it take so long for God to give them what they had been praying for? That brings me to my next thought.

Thought #2 - Could it be about the timing?

I look at Elizabeth and Zachariah, and I see a couple who desperately desire a child. We know they prayed; the angel said Zachariah’s prayer was heard. However, throughout their 20s, 30s, and 40s, God never responded. He never answered.

At this point, Zachariah and Elizabeth are past their childbearing years, and there are clearly two distinct viewpoints. The couple's understanding is "no children". However, God's understanding is "child at the right time".

The bible clearly tells us to trust God and not to lean on our own understanding. God has all the inside information and secrets. So when I read this story, there is more going on than a couple who desire children. God has something in the works that requires perfect timing.

Thought #3 - It's was all about Jesus!

Here is a child destined to make way for Jesus to come onto the scene. This couldn't be just any old child. This child is special in his own wonderful way. The bible says this about the child of Zachariah and Elizabeth.

1. John will bring joy and gladness. Many will rejoice at his birth.

   
   

2. He will be great in the sight of the Lord.

   
   

3. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while in the womb.

   
   

4. John will turn many to the Lord.

   
   

5. He will go before Jesus in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the people.

   
   

It looks like God has a plan. A plan that needs to be brought forth at the perfect time. Here is a child coming into the world to do several awesome things. However, the biggest thing for John is to usher in Jesus, another child who will be born about six months later.

God is setting the stage for the main character to enter the scene, and God uses John as the perfect supporting cast.

The whole plan is Jesus. It is always about Jesus. However, John is a part of the plan. Jesus needed John to baptize Him in order to fulfill all righteousness.

"I need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?" That's what John said. Even John the Baptist didn't fully comprehend what God was doing? However, he is the only one God chose, at the perfect time, to baptize Jesus so that all righteousness could be fulfilled.

In Conclusion

God is not bound by physical condition. He's not bound by the label "barren". He's not bound by our perspective, perception, or opinion. He's not bound by our own understanding of the situation. He's not bound by what we can or can't do, our flaws, or our faults. He's not bound by time. God's not bound by any of these things. He proved it by causing an old barren woman to conceive a child at the perfect time according to His will.

Just remember, if it's His will, He will do the same for you, so keep the faith and never give up on your Father. His hands are not tied, and will never be.