Mothers Who Mattered (6): Elizabeth — Faith That Waited
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"And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." (Luke 1:6)
Some stories in Scripture move quickly. Others unfold over decades.
Elizabeth's story belongs to the second category.
We meet her in the opening chapter of Luke's Gospel, but by then she has already lived a long life of faithfulness. She and her husband Zechariah had served God for many years. They had prayed. They had hoped. They had waited.
And still no child came.
In the culture of ancient Israel, barrenness often carried a heavy burden of sorrow and misunderstanding. Children were considered a blessing from God, and childlessness frequently brought questions, whispers, and personal grief. Luke tells us plainly:
"But they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years." (Luke 1:7)
Years passed. Then more years.
The prayers of youth seemed unanswered.
Yet Elizabeth did not abandon her faith.
Luke describes both Elizabeth and Zechariah as righteous before God. Their devotion was not dependent upon receiving what they wanted. They continued to trust and obey even when heaven appeared silent.
That is one of the great lessons Elizabeth offers modern believers.
Many Christians can trust God when answers come quickly. It is harder to trust Him when prayers seem delayed for years—or even decades.
Elizabeth reminds us that God's silence is not God's absence. The Lord is often working according to a timetable hidden from our view.
God Remembers
One day Zechariah was serving in the Temple when the angel Gabriel appeared.
The message must have seemed impossible.
"Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John." (Luke 1:13)
The prayer had not been forgotten.
God had not misplaced it.
The answer was simply arriving at the appointed time.
The child who would be born was no ordinary son. John would become John the Baptist, the prophet who would prepare the way for the Messiah.
What seemed like a personal disappointment was actually part of a larger divine plan.
Elizabeth could not see that plan during the long years of waiting. Neither could Zechariah. But God saw the whole story from the beginning.
How often is that true in our own lives?
We pray for something good and receive no immediate answer. We assume God has said no, when perhaps He is simply saying, "Not yet."
A Mother of Humility
When Elizabeth conceived, she recognized God's hand immediately.
"Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men." (Luke 1:25 )Notice what she does not do.
She does not boast.
She does not demand recognition.
She does not become bitter over the years she lost.
Instead, she gives glory to God.
True faith produces gratitude rather than self-congratulation.
Elizabeth understood that every blessing ultimately comes from the Lord.
The Mother Who Recognized the Messiah
Perhaps the most beautiful moment in Elizabeth's story occurs when Mary visits her.
Mary has recently received Gabriel's announcement that she will bear the promised Messiah.
As soon as she enters Elizabeth's house and greets her cousin, something extraordinary happens.
"And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost." (Luke 1:41)
John, still unborn, responds to the presence of Jesus, who is likewise still in the womb.
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth immediately recognizes what is happening.
"And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:43)
These are remarkable words.
Long before the shepherds arrived at Bethlehem, before the wise men came from the East, before Jesus preached a sermon or performed a miracle, Elizabeth recognized Him as Lord.
Her spiritual insight was not the product of education or position. It came from a heart prepared by years of faithful walking with God.
Those who wait upon the Lord often develop eyes that can recognize His work when others miss it.
Encouraging Another Mother
Elizabeth also teaches us something about spiritual encouragement.
Mary was young and facing an overwhelming calling. She would need strength, reassurance, and wisdom.
God provided Elizabeth.
Rather than focusing on her own miracle, Elizabeth celebrated Mary's greater miracle. Rather than drawing attention to herself, she encouraged another woman chosen by God.
"Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord." (Luke 1:45)
What a gift those words must have been to Mary.
Elizabeth shows us that godly mothers do more than raise children.
They strengthen the faith of others. Their influence often extends far beyond their own homes.
The Reward of Faithful Waiting
Eventually Elizabeth gave birth to her son.
Neighbors and relatives rejoiced with her. The child was named John, just as God had commanded. The promises of God had come to pass.
Yet Elizabeth's greatest legacy was not merely giving birth to John the Baptist.
Her legacy was steadfast faith.
She trusted when answers were delayed.
She obeyed when circumstances were discouraging.
She rejoiced when God finally acted.
And she used her blessing to point others toward Christ.
In a culture that prizes instant results, Elizabeth reminds us that some of God's most beautiful works require long seasons of waiting.
The God who remembered Elizabeth has not changed.
He still hears every prayer.
He still keeps every promise.
And He is still working, even during the years when His purposes seem hidden from view.
Reflection
Are there prayers you have carried before God for many years?
Elizabeth's story invites us not to give up. The Lord's delays are never accidental.
What appears to be silence may simply be preparation for something greater than we can presently imagine.
The God who remembered Elizabeth remembers His people today.
And like Elizabeth, we may someday discover that the waiting itself was part of His gracious plan.
Looking Ahead
Next week, we will meet Bathsheba, a woman whose story is often remembered for scandal and sorrow, yet whose life reveals God's grace, redemption, and providence. As the mother of Solomon and an ancestor of Jesus Christ, Bathsheba's journey reminds us that God can bring His purposes to fulfillment even through the failures and brokenness of human lives.
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Heavenly Father, thank You for this example of faithfulness in Elizabeth. Teach ne to stay aware that all Your promises are true, and that delays are not denials. I remember the 4,000 year gap between the promise to Eve and Jesus' birth. I thank You for that birth and oray in His name. Amen.
Please pray with me if you agree with this prayer and not that in the Comments section below. God bless you today! - Ken
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Ask what thou wilt, believing heart,
The answering time will come;
Pray and believe—that is thy part,
The answering time will come.
Refrain
The answering time will come;
The answering time will come.
Tho’ dark the way, still trust and pray,
The answering time will come.
Ask in the name of Christ thy Lord,
The answering time will come;
Rest on the promise of His Word,
The answering time will come.
Refrain
God’s Word is sure; it cannot fail,
The answering time will come;
The prayer of faith shall yet prevail,
The answering time will come.
Refrain
God will not mock believing prayer,
The answering time will come;
He knows the burden thou dost bear,
The answering time will come.
Refrain
Words: Mary B. Wingate, 1908.
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