Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

Luke 1:18 (NIV)

Waiting on God and trusting His timing can be really frustrating—and even defeating.

Sometimes we have waited so long that we have lost faith and no longer believe that God is there for us. If we are struggling to cope with delays and disappointments, ask God to grant us the grace to love and trust Him regardless of our own circumstances.

Don't be overcome by restlessness, grief, or impatience. We can learn to accept unanswered prayers without becoming discouraged or bitter. Even when our prayers are not answered, we can still believe God is good and loving and faithful.

What we perceive as unanswered prayers are often not truly unanswered prayers.

God answers prayer in His way in His time according to His plan.

Simply learn to keep your relationship with God strong and healthy while continuing to serve Him. Don't let one unanswered prayer discourage you or rob you of the peace that is rightfully yours in Christ. While suffering unfulfilled longings, Zechariah and Elizabeth persistently kept on praying and believing God, even when it was impossible to do so (Luke 1:13).

Consider this for a moment—what if our unanswered prayers are part of God’s broader plan, not just for our lives, but for the lives of those around us? Then it is not just us who are waiting for God—God is also waiting for things to fall into place before responding. Zechariah desired a son, but God desired a forerunner to prepare the way for His Son. And they both got what they wanted.

Zechariah was surprised that God had finally answered his prayer.

The angel told Zechariah to name his son, John. It was to remind him and all of us that God is always gracious and merciful towards us. If God does not answer our prayers in the way we expect, we can still trust Him completely that He is working His greater purpose in our situations. God is able to make everything beautiful in His time.