Day 3 – Waiting
“Both of them (Zachariah and Elizabeth) were upright in the sight of God, observing the Lord‘s commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.”
Luke 1:6-7
As we read yesterday, Zachariah and Elizabeth have been praying for decades for a baby. They are “righteous and blameless“ and yet are carrying a deep burden of childlessness and longing.
A desire unmet.
Their burden could lead them in either of two directions. To bitterness and distance – from each other and from God. Fingers pointed, blame assigned, bitterness sprouting like a tree splitting the sidewalk.
Or, it can lead to persistence, to growing hunger, to moving towards, to increasing righteousness.
Inward: Father, what do you want me to know?
What unmet desires do I have?
What am I doing with them?
How are they affecting me? Are they a barrier and a stumbling block? Or are they creating more hunger and persistence?
Outward: Father, what do you want me to do?
Confession is not just an admission of guilt; it is truth-telling.
When a cop asks a criminal for a confession, he doesn’t ask whether he did it; he slides a legal pad and pen across the table and tells him to write down everything that happened. Truth-telling.
Take a minute or two to confess (tell the truth) about a burden you’re carrying.
Write a prayer, expressing your honest heart to God.
