Yes, No and Later

It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear. But the angel reassured him, "Don't fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John." Luke 1:8-13

The angel of God tells Zechariah, “Your prayer has been heard” (Luke 1:13). For decades, Zechariah and Elizabeth have been asking God for a child.

What have you stopped praying about? Friends, God always answers prayer with one of three responses: yes, no, and later.

Perhaps some people believed that God was ignoring Zechariah, but the man kept praying, loving, serving, worshiping God, and adoring his wife. God hadn’t answered “yes” just yet. God hadn’t answered “no” either. God kept answering “later” until finally the day arrived when the answer was “yes.” We learn from their example that we should keep praying even when it seems like it’s not working. God was just working out His providential plan in his preferred time for this child given to Zechariah and Elizabeth would be the forerunner to the world's Savior.

Where have you grown weary in prayer? Can you think of examples in your own life when God granted a request after years of answering “later”?

Prayer: Lord provide for us the patience and perseverance to press on in our prayers to You even when the answer is always later. For at such a time as You have determined may our prayer burst forth to be a response of Your glory and Kingdom growth. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.