Luk 1:8-13
Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,
according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.
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.

How shocking must this have been?
Zacharias/Elizabeth were beyond child-bearing age, yet now, an angel pronounces that they will have a son.
A son they are to name John.

Zacharias was troubled…ya reck’n?
The angel tells Zacharias to be not afraid.
Fear often came/comes when an angel appears.

The angel also told Zacharias something that he had likely doubted.
The Lord had heard his petition.
What petition?
Likely the petition for children.
Was Zacharias seeking the Lord about that at the moment?
I do not think so.
He was interceding for the nation.

The Lord was telling him that the prayers from long ago, likely decades, had been heard.
They were now being answered.

Certainly, God’s timing in not ours.

Why the answer at this time?
What was the purpose of now?
What would this child do?
We will see.

For today, doubt not in pressing on in prayer.
We may not see the answer today, but God hears.
His timing is perfect.