When God's Timing Doesn't Match Ours - Luke 1:5-25

Zechariah and Elizabeth were faithful people. Scripture tells us they walked blamelessly in all the commandments of the Lord. They did everything right. They prayed faithfully. They served God devotedly. And yet, they remained childless in a culture where barrenness was considered a disgrace.

Then one ordinary day, while Zechariah was performing his priestly duties in the temple, the extraordinary happened. An angel appeared with news that seemed impossible: Elizabeth would bear a son who would prepare the way for the Lord. This child would be John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ himself.

But notice Zechariah's response. Even this righteous priest, standing in the presence of an angel in the temple of God, struggled to believe. "How shall I know this?" he asked. "For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." His doubt was so strong that he was struck silent until the promise came to pass.

There's something deeply human and relatable about Zechariah's struggle. How many of us have prayed for something for so long that we've almost given up hope? How many times have we questioned whether God really hears our prayers?

What this passage teaches us is that God's timing is not our timing, but His timing is always perfect. Zechariah and Elizabeth's years of waiting weren't wasted. Their son would have a unique and essential role in salvation history. The wait itself was part of God's greater plan.

The story also reminds us that doubt doesn't disqualify us from God's promises. Zechariah doubted, and yes, there were consequences. But the angel's message still came true. Elizabeth still conceived. John was still born to fulfill his mission. God's plans move forward despite our uncertainties.

As we move through Advent, waiting for Christmas, this gospel invites us to reflect on our own waiting. What promises of God are we struggling to believe? Where do we need to trust that His timing is better than ours? The God who remembered Elizabeth remembers us too. Our prayers are not forgotten, even when the answer seems long in coming.