FAITH CAPSULE: In the face of challenge, only the grace, goodness and mercy of God will make the difference.

Luke 1: 1-17

It is written, “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. 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, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.” (Luke 1:5-7) In life there is none that is exempted from challenges. However, God is more than able to deliver. Despite the faithfulness of Zacharias and Elizabeth before God, they were not exempted from challenges of life. Serving and seeking God could not deliver the answer of Zacharias and Elizabeth’s prayer for child at their younger age. After so much time praying for child, the hope of having a child was almost impossible in the understanding of man.
Does this sound like you?
Have you lost hope and accepted challenges as destiny?
Challenges are not because God did not hear your prayer, neither is it an evidence of unrighteousness. However, keep on waiting on God and not be discouraged. God is not asleep regarding His people but does have a plan for the faithfulness. Do not stop praying to God who knows how much prayer has been rendered in the face of challenges. Zacharias waited in prayer but answer did not happen at Zacharias expected time, but at the Lord’s time. In the face of challenge, only the grace, goodness and mercy of God will make the difference.
For Zacharias and Elizabeth, it was late to receive answer from their prayer, but their miracle was not late to bring to pass the plan and purpose of God.
God remembered Zacharias whose name means, “Jehovah remembers” and he received his breakthrough miracle. While Zacharias was serving God in the temple of the Lord, he had an encounter with a visitation of God. The bible recorded, “Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But 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.’” (Luke 1:11-13) The angel from God came to pass on a message of miracle to Zacharias. Indeed, prayer of Zacharias and Elizabeth was long, seemed to be late before man but answer delivered at God’s appointed time. God is never late if man remains focus and not replace God with gimmick. With God man might be late but time with God is never wasted. In the face of challenge, keep eyes on God and testimony shall be glorious.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to maintain focus on God.