Introducing Zechariah and Elizabeth – Luke 1:5-7 

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Elizabeth and Zechariah are remarkable for their commitment: living faithfully in the face of despair; never giving up their faith, even when they have given up their dreams. Their story encourages us to consider how we can adopt their quiet acceptance of challenges and frustrations in our lives; how we might let go of a situation that is causing pain and stress. Not to give up, but to hand the problem over to God. To spend less energy on circumstances outside our control and to lessen a problem’s grip on our lives. And to remember it is when we are at our most powerless, when our ideas and plans are barren, that God is most apparent.