ZACHARIAH AND ELIZABETH

An elderly woman - with a loving husband [he happens to be a priest] - who has never been able to become pregnant, suddenly, at an advanced age becomes pregnant and delivers a son!  Try to imagine the joy that Zachariah and Elizabeth experienced.  After all these years of being ‘the barren one’, she births a son in her old age! 

How many times did they cradle him between them in their bed and just marvel at his perfection?  Surely they must have giggled themselves to sleep on more than one occasion. 

Zachariah had prayed and prayed that this would happen.  Remarkably, he continued to pray about it even when Elizabeth was well past the years of bearing a child.  How’s that for faith? 

Then, one day when he was fulfilling his priestly responsibilities, an angel appeared to him in the sanctuary with a message:  “Don’t fear, Zachariah.  Your prayer has been heard.  Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you.  You are to name him John.  You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you – many will delight in his birth.  He’ll achieve great stature with God.”   [Luke 1:13-15a TM]

The angel continued:  “He’ll drink neither wine nor beer.  He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb.  He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God.  He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics – he’ll get the people ready for God.”   [Luke 1:15-17 TM]

If you read this whole story, you’ll find that Zachariah – this priest, this man of prayer – doubted the report of the angel! 

Why pray if we don’t BELIEVE God can answer our prayer?  There are consequences that come as a result of doubting God!

Zachariah was unable to speak from that moment until after the baby was born and he – by writing – confirmed that the baby should be named ‘John’. 

In that moment, the Holy Spirit entered Zachariah and he prophesied and gave glory to God. 

“A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else.  Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, ‘What will become of this child?  Clearly, God has his hand in this.’”  [Luke 1:65-66  TM]

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Wouldn’t you love to live your life in such a way that your faith-filled actions stirred the whole community?  Imagine everyone in your community talking about you and your family and your faith-stand before the Lord!  Everyone around you marveling at the goodness of God in your life! 

Oh, c’mon, Hal, how is that going to happen?

“O ye of little faith.”  [Luke 12:28]

POSSIBLE SCENARIOS:

·         Cancer visits your home, but you persevere and continue to give glory to God instead of blaming Him!

·         You’re unable to get pregnant.  After tests and other attempts, you adopt children and raise a family to God’s glory!

·         You lose your spouse too early in life, but determine to go forward with joy rather than live in grief!

·         Your child wanders off the path and into a lifestyle that causes you pain.  But you persevere in prayer and keep loving that child! 

·         Downsizing causes you to lose your job!  You struggle, but call on God’s people to pray and you hold on with determination to see how God is going to resolve this crisis. 

·         Poor financial management finally becomes a crisis.  You call out to God, learn biblical principles and begin to practice generosity and discipline.

·         Depression keeps knocking at your door, but you develop a network of friends to pray for and with you as you place your trust in God! 

·         Loneliness nearly overwhelms you!  You begin to volunteer at the church and the local rescue mission and discover that there are people who are far lonelier than you!

You can write your own scenario!  It’s not the depth of the crisis you face, but the way you face the crisis that matters!   Zachariah screwed up at first, but then got back on track.  You can too!  Put your trust in God!  Look around!  Listen carefully!  Pray and then act!  God has a way for you.  AND PEOPLE WILL MARVEL WHEN THEY SEE HOW HE WORKS IN YOUR LIFE!

TURNING TO A COUNSELOR

While reading I Samuel 1, I noticed an incident of pastoral counseling. 

Hannah is barren.  Her husband, Elkanah, loves her dearly.  However, Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah, taunts Hannah relentlessly. 

Hannah is distraught.

On a yearly trip to worship God and make sacrifices, Hannah “slipped away quietly and entered the sanctuary."  Eli is on duty at the time. 

“Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to GOD and cried and cried – inconsolably.  Then she made a vow” that if God answered her prayer for a son, she would dedicate the son to the Lord’s service! 

Now, her praying was silent – only her lips moved.  Eli was watching and assumed that she was drunk.  He began to reprimand her. 

She explained her situation, “Don’t for a minute think that I’m a bad woman.  It’s because I’m so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I’ve stayed here so long.” 

Eli answered her, “Go in peace.  And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.”

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It’s a brief encounter between a suffering woman and a leader who has a pastor’s heart.  

She is hurting deeply and, in desperation, cries out to God. 

The pastor/counselor intervenes – even if out of a misunderstanding of the situation. 

She explains her plight to him.  He listens attentively and sees the depth of her pain. 

She tells him of the vow she’s just made.

He senses her sincerity. 

Having completely bared herself to him, he offers her consolation and the peace of God, adding his own prayer that her cry will be answered by Almighty God! 

Upon returning home, Elkanah sleeps with Hannah and she conceives a son.  Samuel [‘I asked God for him’] is born within the year.  She nurtures him for several years and then takes him to Eli to enter the service of God! 

Samuel becomes the last ‘Judge’ of Israel and a great prophet who anoints the first two kings of Israel:  Saul and David! 

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Over the years, since obtaining my counseling degree, I’ve been privileged to work with hundreds of couples, many families and individuals!  Some of those relationships were brief, others long-lasting.  Some of these relationships were beneficial, producing greater health, satisfaction and new direction. 

I wasn’t always able to connect with people.  I’ve consistently taught that there are many factors involved in connecting with a counselor.  If one isn’t able to help, don’t give up!  Try again with a different counselor!  They vary in skill, personality, approach, experience, and compassion – trying only one is potentially depriving yourself of the help you so desperately need! 

I’ve personally turned to counselors a number of times in my life and have been helped by their intervention. 

It can be very rewarding to gain a new perspective on your situation and be given previously unconsidered options for your problem or dilemma.  

Regaining a sense of understanding and balance in your life is vitally satisfying!  Peace is restored.  Joy is renewed.  Hope is re-ignited.  Prayers are answered.  Thanks be to God!