On The 6th Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me--The Gift of Answered Prayer & Lack of Fear

Do Not Be Afraid--Your Prayer Has Been Heard

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.


 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.
 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.”
Luke 1:5-7, 11-14


Throughout the course of the next week, many people will take Bibles off the shelf and with family gathered ‘round, read the timeless Christmas story. They’ll share how a frightened virgin teenager carried the hope of the world in her womb and the love of her good man, Joseph, in her heart. Once again, they’ll hear the songs of angels and imagine the awe of the shepherd and envision the gifts of the Wise Men. (I wonder if they’ll miss the infertility story stuck right in the middle of it all?)

After the angel appeared to Mary and told her she would carry God’s Son, she journeyed to see Elizabeth, her aunt. She and her husband were described by God as righteous and blameless, yet there were no children in their home because Elizabeth was infertile. Zacharias was a priest and was busy going about the business of the Lord when an angel appeared to him. Realize that angels of Scripture are nothing like the pretty, sweet-faced cherubs we see in gift shops! Zacharias was terrified of this holy, angelic being making an appearance to him this day! Fear gripped this old man’s heart and he probably thought he would die!

We know that Elizabeth & Zacharias’ life was one marked by prayer for a baby because of what the angel said to him that day: "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.” Can you imagine the look on this old man’s face? Not only does an angel appear to him, but the angel not only tells him not to be afraid, but also tells him he’s about to be a father? “You don’t have to be afraid, Zacharias. Your petition has been heard!” “What petition has been heard?” “Your petition to have a child has been heard!” All the prayers he had prayed all those years begging God for a baby really had been heard by God! They hadn’t bounced off the heavens and floated off into space! God heard them and the answer was given! A baby was on the way!

Perhaps the angel would say the same to you this Christmas:

You don’t have to be afraid. Your petition has been heard.

You don’t have to be afraid that God really isn’t who He said He would be. Your petition has been heard!

You don’t have to be afraid that God doesn’t care about your marriage. Your petition has been heard!

You don’t have to be afraid of the financial struggle you face. Your petition has been heard!

You don’t have to be afraid of the uncertainty of your future. Your petition has been heard!

You just don’t have to be afraid. Even if it seems that you have waited forever, your every petition has been heard by heaven!

Elizabeth and Zacharias were old. They had prayed many prayers for many years and probably wondered many times why God didn’t grant them children in their youth. But God had a greater plan. He knew their child had a special and magnificent call on his life. He would be the forerunner to the Messiah. God knew there was a specific time that John needed to be conceived. God heard every prayer Elizabeth prayed for a baby. And He answered in perfection. God heard every single time Zacharias cried out to Heaven for his wife to conceive. He hears you as well.

So don’t be afraid this Christmas. Don’t fear for your future. Don’t fear your family. Your petitions have been heard, so there is no need for fear.