“They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in
all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. And yet they had no
child…” — Luke 1:6–7
Zechariah and Elizabeth lived blamelessly. That doesn’t mean perfectly—it means they walked with God in reverent obedience over a lifetime. They honored His commands, feared His name, and lived in quiet faithfulness.
And yet… they were childless.
In that culture, barrenness was seen as a curse. People would have whispered. Assumed. Misjudged. But God saw differently. He called them righteous.
They were old when God finally answered their decades-long prayers. Not when it was culturally ideal. Not when it would bring them the most personal convenience. But when it aligned with His redemptive plan. The angel’s words to Zechariah say it plainly: *”Your petition has been heard”* (Luke 1:13). The grammar implies a long-standing request—not a recent one. God had not forgotten. He had been waiting for the *perfect time*.
Their son would be no ordinary child. He would be John the Baptist—the one sent to prepare the way for the Messiah. A man Jesus would later say was the greatest among those born of women.
But notice: Zechariah didn’t respond to the angel with joy—but with doubt. His years of disappointment had quietly worn down his expectation. Still faithful, still serving—but no longer expectant. God disciplined him with silence—not punishment, but refinement. And in that silence, Zechariah’s faith grew again. When John was born, Zechariah’s tongue was loosed—not with complaint, but with *prophetic praise*.
This is what it means to finish well: to stay faithful even when your prayers seem unanswered, and to trust that God’s delays are never dismissals.
Zechariah and Elizabeth’s later years bore fruit that would echo into eternity. Their faithfulness, their waiting, their righteousness—all became part of the story of Christ.
Your waiting is not wasted.
God sees. He knows. And if your life is yielded to Him, He can still birth something miraculous through you—whether physical, spiritual, or legacy.
Further Reading
Luke 1:6–7 — “They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments… and yet they had no child.”
Romans 8:28 — “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.”
Habakkuk 2:3 — “For the vision is yet for the appointed time… though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come.”
Reflection Questions
1. What long-standing prayer or hope have you nearly given up on?
2. How can you remain faithful in the waiting, even when God seems silent?
3. Where is God inviting you to believe again—even if your heart is weary?
Suggested Prayer\
Lord, help me wait like Zechariah and Elizabeth—faithfully, righteously, and expectantly. Remind me that no waiting is wasted in Your hands. Birth something eternal through my trust in You.
This devotional is excerpted from Full of Sap and Very Green by D.C. Robertsson.
