DAY FOUR: Faithful in Disappointment

The first story in Luke's Gospel is about Zechariah and Elizabeth, parents of John the Baptizer. Today, let's think about one characteristic in their life revealed in Luke 1.5-25.

Zechariah and Elizabeth’s great sadness was that they were never able to conceive and have a child. We've had many friends over the years who have never been able to have children. We’ve also known folks whose children have died tragically. There is an indelible sadness in their lives. Maybe some of you have had an experience like that.

People struggle with disappointments of all kinds. Some are under constant financial stress because their dreams of success and prosperity never worked out. Others are dealing with the disillusionment of a marriage that fell apart, or of a child who has gone astray and is in trouble. People who were perfectly healthy a year ago now find themselves facing a diagnosis that they are seriously ill. I deal with folks every day who are now entering the holiday season knowing that a loved one might not live more than a few days or weeks.

The Christmas season tends to be a difficult time of year for those who have suffered in these and a thousand other ways. Some churches are now conducting what are called “Blue Christmas” services to help people with their disappointments, sadness and grief during the holidays.

Zechariah and Elizabeth were ordinary folks who lived most of their lives with deep sorrow and disappointment. Yet one of the things that impresses me about them was that they remained faithful. The text says that they lived righteously before God, they sought to keep his Word, they kept praying and seeking God.

Somehow they were able to receive God’s grace and persevere, even in the midst of long disappointment. They didn’t grow bitter. They didn’t give up. I’m sure there were many times when they cried out to God, expressed their anger to God, and questioned God. But they never forsook their faith in God.

Do you think there might be a lesson in that?