If you are like me, you sometimes wake up at 2:00 a.m. and cannot get back to sleep. Let’s suppose that the next time that happens you go to the kitchen, turn on the light, and find an angel standing there and calls you by name. What would you say? What do you think the angel would say?
Luke’s Christmas story begins with a similar situation involving a man named Zachariah. In chapter one, verse five, we read that both Zachariah and his wife, Elizabeth, were from priestly stock, a fact that was highly valued among the Jews. Verses six and seven tell us that “Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.”
Although both of them were “righteous” they were suffering the ultimate disappointment and humiliation. For most Jews, eternal life and immortality was understood to come through their children. Through them one lived on forever. Thus no children meant no immortality, no eternal life.
It was during Zachariah’ great moment of burning incense before God that an angel appeared to him. Verse twelve says that Zachariah “was startled and was gripped with fear.” Very likely I would have responded in like manner. But then comes the almost unbelievable good news. The angel said, “Do not be afraid, Zachariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call John.”
Zachariah is gripped by fear and stuttering with disbelief and doubt. But why? Had he given up believing that God would answer his fervent prayers? Had he been praying without conviction? After the many years of praying for a child, had he given in to the feeling that he and his wife are now too old for such a prayer to be answered. Yes, even a very righteous man or woman can pray with very little sense of expectation.
I heard the story of a man in his nineties who went to his doctor with knee trouble, and the doctor said, “At your age, what do you expect?” The man replied, “I expect you to fix this knee. My other knee is the same age, and it works fine.”
Whatever age we may be, we can slip into disbelief BY thinking that answers to our prayers become restricted or limited because of our age. This story tells us that Zachariah’s age was not a factor in God’s ability to carry out his purposes.
What if an angel appeared in front of you right now and said to you, “Your prayer has been heard.” How would you react, and what would such an experience mean to you? What would be the “too good to be true” news in your life? Have you given up believing that God can still make it happen, like Zachariah did?
As we grow older and maybe wearied by unanswered prayers, we are tempted to give up believing God can make it happen. Or, we may find it difficult to believe that God still has plans for us to be a participant in his great “good news” work. Or, we may become impatient in praying and waiting for God to act and decide to take things into our own hands to help God out, like Abraham did.
Whatever the excuse or reason, we will pay a price for our unbelief, just as did Zachariah. He received very good news in the angel’s message “your prayer is heard,” but because of his unbelief, he could not speak this “good news” blessing to his family and the assembled worshipers, until after the promised birth of his son happened.
What would be the “too good to be true” news in your life? Have you given up believing that God can still make it happen? May the beloved scriptures and carols of Jesus’ birth of this Christmas season reawaken your faith and trust in the One who hears and answers our prayers.
“The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.” (Luke 1:19).
“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 11, 2019
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
Comments on: "Your Prayer Has Been Heard" (1)
A wonderful post! ♥️
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