Don't Fear - Pray

 

Advent 2021 is here!  There is something about the Advent season that stirs my heart as we begin to prepare for the arrival of Jesus.  This morning, I spent time reviewing the themes of Advent I have written about in the past.  Over the last seven years, they have spanned everything from the gifts of Christmas to the characters of Christmas.  I struggled on what to share and decided to go to the source, the book of Luke, chapters 1 and 2, where the story of Jesus’ birth lies.  I read and re-read those chapters and realized something wonderful (don’t we always find something wonderful when we delve into this story?).

There, in the pages of my Bible, I noticed how many times an angel shared the words, “Do not be afraid.”  Three separate times with three different people in three different scenarios.  Today’s post will focus on the angel who came to Zechariah in the temple.  The angel was bringing the news that Elizabeth would bear a son.  All of this seemed unbelievable to Zechariah, as he and Elizabeth were no spring chickens.  Yet, as we know, God works in ways that man will never understand.

Zechariah was a true man of God and very obedient to God’s laws.  He prayed for a son.  In God’s Time, his son would be delivered.  How many times have you prayed the same prayer, over and over again, wanting God to deliver in YOUR time?  When that happens, we wonder where God is.  Why isn’t He answering our prayers?  We can begin to become afraid that God is not going to answer the prayers we are offering to Him.

There have been times in my life when I believed that was the case.  I was truly afraid God was not going to answer the prayers I put up to Him.  I was afraid that He was not listening to me. Yet, God delivered.  Almost always it was never in my time and many times not in the way I was praying.  He knew better.  He always knows better.  He delivered what I needed, not what I wanted.  I may have been afraid to walk in the path He provided for me, yet when I walked in that path, the outcome was always greater than my ways.

Friends, let us be reminded as Zechariah was so many years ago, that God hears our prayers.  Each and every prayer.  Let us not be afraid to walk in the answered prayers God gives to us.  Let us boldly go where God sends us.  Receive His gift of an answered prayer as a blessing.  As the angel said to Zechariah, “Do Not Be Afraid.” 

Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us not to be afraid of answered prayers.  There are times when your time and your answers are quite different than that for which we may be praying.  Yet, we know you are the author of our lives.  You author the best story for us.  May we rest in the comfort of you all-knowing ways.  Bless us this Advent Season.  Amen!