The People of Advent, and the People We’re Becoming
A devotional from Emmanuel Chapel, Methodist Church Nigeria, Ikoyi, Lagos.
“But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.’”
— Luke 1:13
This Advent reflection begins with Zechariah, a man who waited a long time. He served faithfully as a priest, carried out his responsibilities, and kept worshipping even when the deepest desire of his heart went unanswered. Scripture tells us that he and Elizabeth were “well advanced in years.” Time had passed, and hope seemed lost.
Many of us reading this Advent devotional know that quiet place of long waiting. We have prayers we say boldly, and others we whisper only to God. On the day the angel appeared, Zechariah wasn’t praying for a miracle; he was simply fulfilling his duty in God’s house. And right there, God interrupted the ordinary with extraordinary grace.
The angel spoke four powerful words: “Your prayer has been heard.”
Those words cut through silence, disappointment, and doubt. Advent begins here, with a reminder that heaven has not forgotten what we have stopped mentioning, what we have stopped praying about or hoping for. As those words were spoken to Zechariah, I pray that you will also hear from God that “Your prayer has been heard,” in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Emmanuel – God with us, even in silence
God’s presence is not loud. It is not always dramatic. Sometimes it comes in a whisper, in a moment, in a sentence that meets us right where we are. Zechariah teaches us that waiting does not mean abandonment. Even when we cannot see movement, God is near. The beauty in the name of our church is that every time we say Emmanuel, we are indeed reminded that God is near, He is with us.
Three lessons from Zechariah’s story
1. Keep serving while you wait. Zechariah was at his post when heaven spoke. Faithfulness in ordinary duty creates space for divine encounter.
2. God’s timing is not our timing. When God responded, it wasn’t during a service, a festival or a crisis. It was just an ordinary day in His house. He comes when we least expect it.
3. God is gracious even when our faith falters. Zechariah doubted, and God still fulfilled His promise. Divine faithfulness is far greater than, and cannot be compared, to human weakness.
A Question for Reflection
Where have you quietly stopped expecting God to move? Is there a prayer you have put away? A dream you no longer speak of? A desire that feels too late? Zechariah reminds us: God still hears, He still remembers, He still arrives just in time, He is still our very present help in time of need.
A Simple Advent Practice
Write one thing you’ve been praying about on a small card or note and keep it in a place where you can easily access it. You can stick it on your wall, your fridge, your car dashboard or even place it in your Bible. Each day this week, pray simply, believing: “Lord, I trust that You have not forgotten me. Let your will be done”
Leave it with Him, trusting that whatsoever we ask in prayer, believing, we shall receive. Just be sure to align your will with His, and your prayer will be heard and answered, just as he has promised.
Prayer
Lord, thank You that no prayer is lost with You. Where we have grown tired of waiting, give us strength. Where silent years have dulled our hope, renew our expectation. Teach us to serve faithfully while we wait, and to trust that You are with us, never to leave nor forsake us. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
(Next in this Advent devotional blog series: Elizabeth — Waiting with Grace and Hope.)
