Facing Lack or Delay? Stay Faithful to the Lord

Last Updated: July 5, 2020

I was recently encouraged while reading Luke 1:5-17.

In this narrative, we find Zacharias and Elizabeth faithfully following the Lord and His ways. An area of lack remained in their lives despite this.

“There was in the days of Herod, the king… a certain priest named Zacharias… His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child…”

Luke 1:5-7 (NKJV)

Almost surprisingly, we will discover that this lack seemed to be allowed by God for His own purposes and timing.

So far we see from this passage:

• The presence of lack or delay in our lives does not mean that we are not serving God faithfully.
• It does not necessarily mean we are not at the right place at the right time.
• It does not mean sin is necessarily the cause.
• It does not mean God doesn’t love us.
• And, this circumstance can actually be a “delay” allowed by God, preventing something from happening outside of His perfect timing and will.

As the account continues, we see God showing up in the midst of Zachariah’s faithful service in the temple (Luke 1:11-17). The answer to prayer he and Elizabeth longed for was about to be realized in a way far greater than they imagined!

“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him… the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness… For he will be great in the sight of the Lord… filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.”

Luke 1:11-16 (NKJV)

God had chosen this couple to bring forth John the Baptist–forerunner of Jesus–at just the right moment in time.

The Lord gave this couple not only a child, but a place in the history of Christ’s first coming. He gave them a son who would serve as the forerunner for Jesus.

Their son John would prepare the way of the Lord and help people’s hearts receive Him. The Gospels record John calling people to repentance from sin and idolatry, preparing them to receive the Lord when He came onto the scene (Luke 3:1-22).

What else can be gleaned from this?

• Stay faithful in loving and serving the Lord. Do what you know to do and do it faithfully.
• In the place of lack, do not make any drastic move without knowing that it is God’s will.
• God will come through. Again, stay committed to the Lord as He has called you.

A disclaimer you must know:

Though God is faithful to come through, it may not be in the way that you think or ask. His will and ours do not always align.

At times His way of answering our prayer is not the same as our desired outcome. Sometimes we even expect things of Him that are out of our own wants and not His best for us.

He always answers, but at times that answer is to simply change our hearts or attitude.

Nonetheless, don’t give up in the waiting. God will come through as you stay faithful in loving and serving Him through this trial of lack or delay.

In a moment, God can take this season of lack and turn it into a place of blessing for His glory. And it’s all about His glory after all.

Further Encouragement from the Word

“Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings.”

Psalm 84:6 (AMPC)

“…the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk up rightly.”

Psalm 84:11 (AMPC)

In due time we shall be overjoyed, proclaiming with King David,

“You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; you have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness”

Psalm 30:11 (AMPC)