Zacharias & Elizabeth, Faithful Yet Barren

What is your response to barrenness?

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. Luke 1:5-7

The scripture tells us that both Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth were righteous people and walked with God blamelessly. However,  they had no children, and now they were advanced in years.

I wonder if Zechariah and Elizabeth had stopped praying for children because they were now too old. The scripture doesn’t state that God had promised a child to them as He did to Abraham and Sara. What would have been the point of hoping for something that was not necessarily promised to them!?

Children have always been considered a blessing and a reward for a righteous person especially in that era and culture. Elizabeth must have felt the shame of being barren while living righteously.

People, generally have different reactions/thoughts to these tough situations.  One response could be, “Why has God cursed this couple for not having children? What did they do wrong? Do they have secret sin?”. Another response could be, “Is God just and fair? Will He bless them somehow?  Is He trustworthy?”.

Are there areas in your life that are barren? Have you wondered, “What is wrong with me?”. Have you stopped hoping or praying because it seems too late? Do you believe God for others but not for your own situation?

You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:26

I love this scripture! It is full of hope and expectation for all of us regardless of the areas of barrenness in our lives! The best response is the response of hope in the midst of not having an answer for all the “why”s.

I have some beautiful friends who have served God faithfully for decades, and they still hope to be married and/or have children. Sometimes, it’s hard to know how to pray for them. The good news is that they have not stopped serving God and walking faithfully with Him. God will still be God. We will not understand everything, but He sees all things including the longing of our hearts.

I will continue with this subject and the life changing experience that Zacharias and Elizabeth encountered in the next devotional.