God is Near: Week Two

Waiting and Hoping

Have you ever waited and hoped for something that just seemed to never come? I know I have and it can become frustrating! Loida and I had something in our lives that we waited on for almost 10 years. We so wanted Loida’s mom to be able to come and visit us in the US and for many reasons she simply was never given a the tourist visa needed for the visit. We worked for it, prayed about it and even made plans for what would happen if she was able to get the visa and yet God never seemed to answer our desired wish. I have to admit that we finally just gave up on all the work and resigned ourselves to the fact that her mom would probably never be able to come to the US, when out of the blue, her mom called one day to say she had gone down to the US embassy (without our knowledge) and they had given her a Visa! 

This Sunday we are going to examine what to do when God seems to not be answering our prayers and then how to handle when God does answer our prayers.  As you prepare for Sunday I invite you to watch the video, read the scripture and then spend a few minutes thinking through the reflection questions below.  See you Sunday!

Luke 1:1-25

Luke 1:1    Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. ² They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. ³ Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, ⁴ so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.

Luke 1:5    When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. ⁶ Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. ⁷ They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

Luke 1:8    One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. ⁹ As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

Luke 1:11    While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. ¹² Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. ¹³ But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. ¹⁴ You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.^{a 16} And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

Luke 1:18    Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Luke 1:19    Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! ²⁰ But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

Luke 1:21    Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. ²² When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

Luke 1:23    When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. ²⁴ Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. ²⁵ “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever waited for something so long that you finally give up on it?
2. How would you react if an Angel came to you and expressed that God was going to give you that thing you had given up on? (read verses 11-19 to see Zechariah’s response)
3. How do you stay connected with God even when the longing of your heart is not being answered?