How to Hold on to Hope When Life Seems Barren
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12
This Advent Season, we are entering into the lives of the parents in the Christmas Story. If you have not yet done so, read the introduction to the Advent series here.
Together, let’s enter into Elizabeth’s story.
What Do We Know about Elizabeth?
We know that Elizabeth, along with her husband, Zechariah, was “righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord”. (Luke 1:6)
Then there is the BUT –
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both now advanced in years. Luke 1:7
The Barrenness in Life
Do you feel like there are “buts” in your life, barren landscapes? Unfulfilled longings, waiting for answers that never seem coming?
Is it hard to consistently do the right thing? To always take the higher road?
Elizabeth was chosen by God for a special purpose, and she was also human like us. I am sure she may have thought.
When is it my turn God? Why are You allowing this pain in my life?
As she watches other women getting pregnant and rearing families, what emotions do you think she had?
Because Elizabeth knew Old Testament scripture and we read of no bitterness in her, we may assume her response was to be true to her emotions and accept God’s plan. Her response may be like that of Job. Job mourns and worships.
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. Job 1:21-22
Did It Hurt to Hope?
When Elizabeth has an inkling that she is pregnant, she goes into seclusion for five months. The Bible does not give the exact reasons why.
However, remember there are no pregnancy tests in these times. She most likely was past the age of menstruation so there was not the physical sign of confirmation. I think she vacillated between hope and fear of hoping.
Do you ever vacillate between hope and fear? I know I do.
Yet Elizabeth has faith, as evidenced by her words.
Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people. Luke 1:25
Elizabeth adds faith to that mixture of hope and fear, and it makes all the difference.
Elizabeth’s Pregnancy is Confirmed
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is told to go to Elizabeth because “nothing is impossible with God”.
Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:36-37
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41
God Works in the Barrenness of Life
God came to Elizabeth in her barrenness and gave her hope.
Her son, John the Baptist, returns to barrenness in a way. He lives in the wilderness of Judea, which is a barren wasteland extending along the Western Shore of the Dead Sea, when the Word of God comes to Him.
John’s message is one of the HOPE that has come into the world.
A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Luke 3:4
How We Wait Matters
I think this scripture encapsulates how Elizabeth lived and how we should live as we wait.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11-14
Dear reader, if you are currently dealing with barrenness in life, place your hope in the God of the impossible. For those of us who call Him Savior, all our longings will one day be fulfilled in eternity. Compare this verse to the opening verse above.
Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14
One thing I love about the seasons is how it the weather makes you crave different foods correlated to the season! Once fall hits, my family requests this pumpkin bread. The recipe makes 4 mini loaves so you can freeze some or give some away.
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