Waiting can feel like the hardest thing to do. Whether you’re waiting for an answer to prayer, a breakthrough in a situation, or clarity in a decision, the waiting often feels like wasted time. But the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1 reminds us that while we’re waiting, God is working.

Zechariah and Elizabeth knew the ache of waiting. They were faithful to God, living righteous lives, but their prayers for a child seemed unanswered for decades. By the time we meet them, they’re “very old,” and the hope of having a child has all but faded. Yet, God had been working all along.

When Zechariah’s priestly division was called to serve, he was chosen by lot for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enter the temple and burn incense. This wasn’t luck; it was God’s perfect timing. Inside, the angel Gabriel appeared with a message that their prayer had been heard: Elizabeth would have a son, John, who would prepare the way for the Lord.

Zechariah’s initial reaction was doubt—understandable after years of disappointment. But even in his doubt, God was working to strengthen his faith. Zechariah left the temple unable to speak, giving him time to reflect on what God was doing. Elizabeth’s response, meanwhile, was joy and gratitude: “The Lord has done this for me.”

So what does their story teach us about waiting?

1. Trust That God Is Working, Even When You Don’t See It
   Zechariah and Elizabeth’s story is a reminder that God is always at work behind the scenes. Even when their prayers seemed to go unanswered, God was orchestrating something far greater than they could imagine.
2. Trust That God Is Working According to His Perfect Timing
   Zechariah’s moment in the temple wasn’t random. It came at the exact time God had planned, for the birth of John wasn’t just about their family—it was about preparing the world for Jesus. God’s timing may not align with ours, but it’s always perfect.
3. Trust That God Is Working to Strengthen Your Faith
   Zechariah’s silence may seem like a punishment, but it was also a gift. It gave him time to process God’s promise and grow in his faith. Sometimes, God allows us to wait so that we’ll be ready for what He’s preparing to do.

While waiting can feel like a season of inactivity, it’s often the time when God is doing His most profound work. He’s preparing you, shaping your faith, and aligning circumstances for His greater purposes. So if you find yourself in a waiting season, take heart: God is at work in ways you can’t yet see.

Reflection Questions

1. What are you waiting for right now? How can you trust that God is working behind the scenes?
2. How has God’s timing in the past proven to be better than your own plans?
3. In what ways could this season of waiting strengthen your faith or prepare you for what God has ahead?

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