While We Wait: Advent Through the Eyes of Zechariah
11/30/2025 • Andy Deane • Luke 1:5-25


We’re all waiting for something—an answer, a provision, a healing, a change—and waiting has a way of either drawing us closer to God or pushing us farther from Him. Advent reminds us that even when God feels silent, He is never absent, and even when He seems slow, He is never late. In Zechariah’s story, we see a God who works in the ordinary, speaks into our doubts, and fulfills His promises in His perfect time. As we enter this Advent season, let Zechariah teach us how to wait with faith, hope, and expectation.

ADVENT THROUGH THE EYES OF ZECHARIAH


1. While we wait for God to act, it feels like He forgot us.

Luke 1:5-7, 5…there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
  • It feels confusing (I’m from a godly family): descendant of Aaron
  • It feels unfair (I’ve followed you): righteous…childless
  • It feels unkind (Why would you withhold good): Elizabeth was not able to
  • It feels hopeless (My opportunity has passed me by): very old

2. Waiting by faith turns ordinary moments into extraordinary.

Luke 1:8-10, 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
  • It takes faith to serve God in these moments: he was serving as priest
  • It takes faith to believe God is good in these moments: before God
  • It takes faith to trust God meets us in our ordinary moments: chosen by lot

3. God’s plans for us are always bigger than our plans.

Luke 1:11-17, 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him…12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you…15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children & the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
  • Bigger plans may scare you: gripped with fear….do not be afraid
  • Bigger plans may or may not match yours: prayer has been heard
  • Bigger plans are impossible without God: bear you a son
  • Bigger plans bring greater joy: He will be a joy and delight
  • Bigger plans are kingdom plans: great in the sight of the Lord

4. When we doubt, God still works, but we miss the joy.

Luke 1:18-22, 18 Zechariah asked…“How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you… 20 Now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time…22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple…
  • Doubt is normal: How can I be sure of this? I am an old man
  • Doubt has answers: I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God
  • Doubt affects us: you will be silent and not able to speak
  • Doubt will be overcome: will come true at their appointed time

5. God will one day answer all of our deepest longings.

Luke 1:24-25, 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant & for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me…in these days he has shown his favor & taken away my disgrace among the people.”
  • God fulfills what He started: Elizabeth became pregnant
  • God works personally in pain: Lord has done this for me
  • God reverses what broke us: taken away my disgrace

Zechariah waited a lifetime. Advent is the story of a God who comes at the right time, in the right way, with the right plan — even when His people thought He was silent. The same God who kept this promise keeps them all!