In part one of Elizabeth’s story in our #PrayBoldGirl series, we learned to be persistent in prayer, especially when our prayer has not been answered in the way we want and we feel like giving up. Our lesson: Never give up praying.
Today, we continue to look to Elizabeth’s story because there is still so much we can learn from her about how to pray boldly.
Have you ever thought you were alone and suddenly realized someone else stood not far from you? It’s enough to make you jump.
It’s understandable the angel startled Zechariah.
Yet, Zechariah was perturbed in another way, too.
Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, the angel said.
Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband, had prayed for them to have a baby, yet when the good news came that they would, he didn’t believe it could happen.
Zechariah responded with disbelief: “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
Poor Zechariah, his doubt left him speechless, literally.
Imagine Elizabeth’s confusion when her husband came home from work in the temple. I’m sure he beamed, but he couldn’t get the words out to tell her the news.
Although we are not told how Elizabeth reacted, I think she responded with overwhelming joy to what the angel said.
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Elizabeth exclaimed later to Mary, I’m sure she applied these words to herself as well.
When your prayer has finally been answered, do you react like Zechariah or Elizabeth?
Have you doubted? Or believed the result?
When God eventually answered my request, the one I’d prayed for years; the one I thought impossible, I must admit I thought: “Can this really be happening?” and “Is this God’s doing?”
However, we shouldn’t let disbelief be our response to the answer to our prayer, or let it spoil the blessing we’ve received.
If you’re in the waiting phase—then use this time to get ready and be expectant.
Jesus said, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Right before these words, Jesus taught that belief moves mountains.
As I look out on the Rockies this morning from my window in Breckenridge, it is impossible to imagine my faith could move those mountains, which have stood for millions of years, into the Pacific Ocean hundreds of miles away. After all, Jesus was only talking metaphorically, wasn’t he? He didn’t really mean we could move mountains.
It seems absurd. It seems impossible. How could I, by praying, move the Rockies?
Yet, Jesus began with an important statement. It’s easy to miss as we focus on the impossible.
Jesus said: Have faith in God. It’s not faith in our prayers or our abilities that matters.
One commentator notes: it is not the ‘amount’ of faith which brings the impossible within reach, but the power of God, which is available to even the ‘smallest’ faith.”[1]
We need to practice having faith and trusting God’s goodness; believing in his power to make the impossible possible.
Zechariah questioned God’s ability. We don’t want to do the same. Instead, like Elizabeth, we want to say: “The Lord has done this for me.”
So as you pray for the impossible to happen, be ready to be blessed. Be expectant of the answer.
Be a bold woman believing nothing is impossible with God. Have faith.
[1] Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 268.
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Linking up with Holly Barrett at #TestimonyTuesday and Suzie Eller at #liveFree