Real Hope: Christmas StorySample

Elizabeth And Zechariah - God Gives Us What We Need

Imagine being Zechariah. You’re doing your job, burning incense in the sanctuary, when an angel appears and tells you that what has been impossible is now happening.

Elizabeth couldn’t fall pregnant and believed, with Zechariah, that their chance to have children had passed them by. It must have been overwhelming to be given the news that they were to have a child. Not just any child, but the one we call John the Baptist.

On this side of history, we know that John went on to baptise Jesus, but ultimately was beheaded – a death that Jesus grieved. We know that Elizabeth and Mary were pregnant at the same time, which means that John, like Jesus, was young when he was executed.

Had the angel given Zechariah the full picture, I can imagine it would have been harder to accept the assignment.

Our minds love closure, which means that when we’re staring down a challenge in life, we long to know as soon as possible how it’s all going to work out. Yet, it is God’s kindness that we can often only see one or two steps ahead of where we are. We are given what we need. This Christmas season may your mind rest where there are unanswered questions.

What are you over-anticipating that is causing unnecessary worry?

Written by SUSIE HOLT