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.” Luke 1:13 (NKJV)
To put today’s verse in context, I recommend reading Luke 1:5-14. Elizabeth was barren, and she and Zacharias were both elderly. They had prayed for a son but it seemed that their prayer had seemingly gone unnoticed. What seemed like unexplainable silence was really God’s work of preparing from for this incredible day. God wasn’t late. God knew the exact time that Jesus would be born – “(in) the fullness of time.” God knew exactly when He would need to send a forerunner (John the Baptist) to prepare the way. The age or physical condition of Zacharias and Elizabeth were no obstacle at all.
What have you been praying for? I encourage you right now to stand in faith for the answer. God’s delays are not God’s denials. His Word says:
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things… Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honour him. Psalm 91:15 (NKJV)
Jesus stated:
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 (ESVUK)
Hebrews 4 invites us:
Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favour), that we may receive mercy (for our failures) and find grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it). Hebrews 4:16 (AMP)
Do not be afraid, for your petition has been heard.