Luke 1:5-7 “In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division 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 ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

It is time to serve you again, Lord. I’ll be leaving today. Help me to be worthy of this ministry you have given me. May I be pure of heart and mind as I come before you to intercede for our people. Be with Elizabeth while I am away. She is carrying the burden of our barrenness with grace, but I know she is in pain. We both are. Even as we go through our daily lives with a smile, the ache is always there.
 
Everywhere we go, there are people who judge silently. But we can see it in their eyes. They don’t come right out and say it, but I know. I know that they wonder what sin I have committed, what law of Yours Elizabeth has broken that would cause you to turn away and leave us childless. But Lord, you know that we are always careful to walk in righteousness and to follow You completely. We love you Lord with our whole hearts. We just don’t understand. After all these years of serving you, why? Our hearts cry out with King David, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? (Psalm 13:1-2)

Why do our prayers go unanswered? What reason do You have for withholding from us something that You so freely give to others around us? Is there some grand reason for this delay, that brings the both of us to an age where we don’t even have the same energy to care for a child as we used to? The desire has not abated, but we are weary from the longing. It is hard to keep hoping. It is painful to keep dreaming. Yet, something within both of us just can’t avoid one last prayer, one last plea. Why do you wait, Lord? Is it too late? What is your plan for us?

Reflection Questions: Why do you think Zechariah is struggling with so many concerns? Do you ever find yourself questioning God? Do you ever feel as if it is wrong or somehow inappropriate? If our God is big enough to hold the world in balance, is He big enough to handle you and all your emotions and concerns? 

Prayer: Lord, sometimes my heart hurts and the questions never seem to stop. I often want to ask you why. Why are you silent? Why is this happening to me or my loved one? Help me to remember it is okay to ask and it is okay to feel anger or sadness, like Zechariah. But also, help me turn my "why" questions into "what" questions. Help me to ask, "What do you want me to do in this situation? What should I be doing while I wait with you?" Amen.