Brownsboro First UMC
by Glenda Elliott

The following is some of a speech a friend of mine gave to a group of ladies in Longview the 19th. I was touched when I read it and asked permission from Rose to share it to anyone who might be going through a difficult time.

Rose spoke on Luke 1:5-25, the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah. He was a priest who burned incense in the temple; he was told his prayers for a child were amswered and then was struck dumb for his disbelief.

What about Elizabeth, the Bible says both were righeous in God's eyes, careful to obey all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. Both with priestly family lines. But in spite of all their love and devotion to God, Elizabeth remained barren. The one thing that personifies a woman to bear children into the world so the family can continue, this was not her joy. In that time for a woman not to have children was a family disgrace, somebody had a curse on them with the family of Elizabeth herself. Both she and Zechariah were very old and I'm sure she felt all hope was gone. But God Had a Plan.

She had walked around all her life with disgrace. Like so many of us who walk around every day feeling rejected, ashamed, less than human all because of what we think others will say or think. Maybe simple minded people are dragging our names through the mud; maybe we are not living up to their standards, as long as the life you're living lines up with the Word of God and you strive every day to be more like Him, then keep your eye on the cross, because God's got your back and He has a blessing in store for you In His Own Time. Remember, this is a temporary place and Heaven is our goal.

Elizabeth lived her life in her village among those who talked about her, her family, but in her heart there's a prayer, "Lord, please give me a child." Her prayers went unanswered, yet she did not give up hope. Sometimes we miss blessings because we give up on them coming. If God doesn't bless us when we think he should, if it doesn't happen on what we consider "a timely manner," we lose hope and give up. Sometimes God doesn't give us blessings because He has to get us ready to handle them. Elizabeth did not get mad or stop believing. She continued to worship, serve, obey and praise Him. Too many times when God doesn't respond like an ATM machine, we get an attitude, quit going to church, quit visiting the sick, quit helping those who need us. "If God ain't gonna do nothin' for me, I ain't gonna do nothin' for Him!"

The more you step out on faith and believe, believe just because He will do exactly what He says he will do, believe just because "I'm a child of God, and it's what He expects of me," the bigger your faith grows. So if you have a little bit of faith maybe it's because you're doing just a little bit of exercise with it. You must work with it every day.

Can you imagine Zachariah writing a note telling Elizabeth what happened? Remember, he could not speak! An angel told him Elizabeth would bear a son and his name was to be John. She became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. How kind the Lord is!

If you don't get anything else out of this, remember, if you're going through a barren time, spiritually, morally, emotionally, physically or financially, if you are a true child of God, not a bench warmer, died to self, hang on and believe the impossible, hold your head up and look to the hills where your help is, don't lose hope. Read God's Word daily and let it strengthen you, hang on to your faith. And when your heart gets heavy, remember Elizabeth.

I hope this blesses you like it blessed me. Maybe it was for me she wrote this speech. I pray God make me like Elizabeth, strong and non-doubting despite her circumstances.