Elizabeth’s Story: Trusting in God’s Timing and Embracing His Blessings
In previous blogs, we have talked extensively about God's timing, and we now know how important it is to trust God, especially when things don’t seem to go according to plan. We often juggle the needs of our family, such as raising children, maintaining a household, and managing life’s challenges, sometimes questioning why certain dreams or desires seem delayed. Many stay-at-home mothers feel that they lose themselves and sometimes actually stop caring for themselves in certain ways. I have been there, not shaving for longer than I would like to admit, or putting off exercise and pushing through the demands of that day instead. About ten years after I achieved my master's degree, I quit my full-time job as a nurse to stay home with my children, leaving behind the world that I once knew. I felt God pulling me home to take care of my children, but I had worked so hard for that life, that career, and it took God shaking my life up to follow His will.
The story of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, is a beautiful reminder that God’s timing is perfect, His blessings are worth the wait, and that He can work miracles during our ordinary lives.
Elizabeth’s story is one of deep faith, waiting, and ultimately experiencing the joy of God’s promises fulfilled. Her journey teaches us the importance of trusting God even in seasons of waiting, embracing His blessings when they come, and understanding that His plans for us can be far greater than we could ever imagine.
Elizabeth’s Story
Elizabeth’s story is found in the Gospel of Luke, where she is introduced as the wife of Zechariah, a priest. Elizabeth and Zechariah were both described as “righteous in the sight of God,” living blamelessly according to all the commandments and decrees of the Lord (Luke 1:6). However, despite their faithful lives, they had one significant heartache: they were childless, and Elizabeth was advanced in age. In those days, being childless was a source of social stigma, and Elizabeth undoubtedly faced pain and heartache over her inability to have children.
Amid this deep longing, Zechariah was serving in the temple when the angel Gabriel appeared to him, announcing that his wife would bear a son. Zechariah doubted the angel’s message, questioning how this could happen given their old age. As a result, Zechariah was struck mute until the promise was fulfilled.
In time, Elizabeth did conceive and gave birth to a son, whom they named John. Elizabeth’s pregnancy was a miraculous answer to years of prayer, and she praised God for His grace. She recognized that the Lord had “taken away [her] disgrace among the people” (Luke 1:25). Elizabeth’s story also intersects with the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. When Mary visited Elizabeth, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” (Luke 1:42). Elizabeth was the first to recognize the significance of the child Mary carried, a beautiful moment of mutual encouragement and joy.
Lessons from Elizabeth’s Story for Homeschooling and Stay-at-Home Moms
1. God’s Timing is Perfect, Even When We Don’t Understand
Elizabeth’s journey to motherhood was long and filled with disappointment. Despite living faithfully, she faced years of infertility and unmet desires. However, God’s timing was perfect. His plan for her life wasn’t delayed—it was simply unfolding in a way that would bring Him the most glory. Elizabeth’s miracle wasn’t just the birth of her son, but the fulfillment of God’s greater purpose in preparing the way for Jesus.
Application: As moms, we often experience seasons of waiting. Whether it’s waiting for a breakthrough in our children’s homeschooling education, waiting for a time when things settle down at home, or waiting for prayers to be answered, it’s easy to feel impatient or frustrated. My son has struggled with reading. He is ahead in all of his other subjects. I knew what I needed to do: I needed to change up the curriculum and move him back a year in reading, which was so hard for me. It took a lot of prayer for me to slow down and meet him where he was. When we changed up how we taught reading, I was sceptical that it would work and worried that we were just pushing him further back. When doing his daily lessons, I waited for a breakthrough. For months, I didn't see any change, but one day it clicked, and within just a few weeks, he started reading more smoothly. If I had given up or pushed on, our son wouldn't be able to read as well as he does today.
Elizabeth’s story teaches us that God’s timing is always perfect. Even when we don’t see immediate results, we can trust that He is working behind the scenes, orchestrating things in ways we might not yet understand. Trusting God in the waiting seasons can bring peace, knowing that He has a plan for our lives and will bring His promises to pass in His perfect time.
2. God Blesses Those Who Trust in Him
Despite the years of pain and disappointment, Elizabeth never gave up on her faith. She and Zechariah were described as “righteous in the sight of God,” continuing to live faithful lives even in their unfulfilled longing for children. Their trust in God was not conditional on receiving a child, but they remained faithful to Him regardless of their circumstances.
Application: As moms, it’s easy to find ourselves in seasons of doubt, especially when we’re waiting for answers to prayers or when things don’t seem to be going the way we hoped. In the last application section, I spoke about waiting for a breakthrough with my son while leaning on God, and now he can read. We are still working on reading, but he is only in second grade (if you count grades in homeschooling, lol). I am so thankful to God for helping us along the way, and this experience has given me a lesson in trusting God. I didn't understand why he struggled, and it made me feel like I was failing my son. Looking back now, I see that he may have struggled in reading, but he loved hearing and telling stories, loves math and science, and can narrate back to me any story that I read to him, even when it looks as though he isn't listening. He is an auditory and tactile learner. Had things gone smoothly, I may have missed this, and it could have caused issues in his education later down the road.
Elizabeth’s story encourages us to trust God, even when we don’t understand why things are taking longer than we expected. Whether it’s in our family, in our homeschooling journey, or in personal matters, God sees our faithfulness and will bless us in His time. Our trust in Him, even in seasons of difficulty, honors Him and sets the stage for His blessings.
3. God Can Bring Miracles in Our Ordinary Lives
Elizabeth’s story is filled with miraculous moments. She experienced the miracle of conception in her old age, a true testament to God’s power. But even amid this miracle, her life was not filled with grandeur. She was a humble woman, faithfully living out her daily life as a wife and a woman of God. The miracle didn’t take her away from her everyday responsibilities; it was woven into the fabric of her ordinary life.
Application: As homeschooling and stay-at-home moms, it’s easy to think that miracles only happen in grand, extraordinary circumstances. When I was younger, I had aspirations to be something big, for others to see me and be awed by my talent or knowledge. This want, or need, to be super successful became an idol. God changed me after having a family. I learned that the little things were as important as the things society tells us are worthy. Taking care of my children became the most important thing to me. Things like laundry, dishes, and cleaning the house became important to me as well, when previously it was just things that took up my time and made it harder for me to focus on myself.
Being known by people that I don't know is no longer a priority. For a while, I focused only on family, but God quickly let me know that I wasn't using my gifts. After God took the idols from my life, he started putting it on my heart to share my testimonies and my gift of teaching. This time, when I use my gifts for people that I don't know, it is because I love them and want them to have a relationship with Jesus, and not because I want to be seen.
Elizabeth’s story reminds us that God works miracles in our daily lives. Whether it’s the joy of seeing our children grow, the small victories in our homeschooling journey, or the answered prayers in our family, God is present in every moment. His miracles may not always look like we expect, but they are often found in the ordinary moments of our lives, and we should be open to seeing His handiwork in every detail.
4. Celebrate God’s Blessings with Others
When Elizabeth became pregnant, she celebrated her blessing by sharing her joy with others, especially with Mary. She recognized the significance of Mary’s pregnancy and rejoiced in the opportunity to encourage her. Her words to Mary, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” (Luke 1:42), are a beautiful example of supporting and encouraging others in their journeys.
Application: As homeschooling and stay-at-home moms, we often face unique challenges, but we also experience blessings and victories that we should share with others. My goal and my prayer are to encourage you to develop a wonderful relationship with Jesus, your husband, and your children. I want to live a life that will glorify Jesus in the big and small things that I do so that my children also see that Jesus is the most important thing in my life, and that is my hope for you as well.
Elizabeth’s example encourages us to celebrate our blessings and to encourage others, especially other moms who may be walking a similar path. Supporting one another in both the struggles and the triumphs creates a community of faith that can lift us all up.
5. God Works Through Our Prayers and Persistence
Elizabeth and Zechariah had prayed for a child for many years. Though their prayers seemed unanswered for a long time, God did not forget them. Their persistence in prayer, even in the face of long-term disappointment, was met with the fulfillment of God’s promise. Their son, John, would become a key figure in preparing the way for Jesus Christ.
Application: As mothers, we spend much of our time praying for our children and families. There are times when our prayers may seem unanswered, or we may feel like we are not seeing the results we hope for. Elizabeth’s story reminds us that God hears our prayers, even when it feels like the answer is delayed. He is faithful to fulfill His promises, and our persistence in prayer is never in vain. Keep praying for your children, your marriage, and your future, knowing that God is working in ways we cannot always see.
I also want to add that sometimes life is hard and we will not always see how God is working in our lives, even if we wait our entire lives. God is good, and many times we will get to see how He worked everything out for good, but some things may be made good for others or for those who come after us. I think that a huge mistake many well-meaning Christians make is telling others that if we just have enough faith, God will do what we ask. God is not a genie and will not just give us what we want if we pray. Sometimes we won't get what we want. Christians who pray fiercely will still experience sadness. Some will experience loss of a husband or child, sometimes illnesses will not be healed, or our children will choose another path. If we place our faith in a god that will give us everything we want, we have not placed our faith in the one true God. If we do this, when we face these horrible and trying times, our faith may not get us through, and we may start to question God's goodness and faithfulness.
6. God Knows and Cares About Our Deepest Longings
Elizabeth’s heart’s desire was to have a child. For years, she experienced the deep longing of unfulfilled hope, compounded by the cultural shame that often accompanied infertility in her time. But when God answered her prayer, she knew that He had seen her pain and had answered her cry for help. She declared, “The Lord has done this for me” (Luke 1:25), acknowledging God’s goodness in fulfilling her deepest desire.
Application: As stay-at-home and homeschooling moms, we often have deep desires and hopes for our families. Whether it's seeing our children grow in wisdom, having strong family relationships, or achieving goals we set for ourselves, we can sometimes feel like our desires are unmet. Elizabeth’s story reminds us that God cares about our deepest longings. He sees our hearts and desires to bless us according to His will. Many times God will bless us, but we must not lose hope if we don't see change right away. God will answer our prayers, even if the answer is no.
Final Thoughts
Elizabeth’s story is one of waiting, trusting, and ultimately receiving the fulfillment of God’s promises. Her life encourages us to trust God’s perfect timing, celebrate His blessings, and keep praying, even when we don’t see the results right away. As homeschooling and stay-at-home moms, we often face moments of doubt, frustration, and impatience. But Elizabeth’s life reminds us that God is faithful to hear our prayers and bless us in His perfect timing.
In our everyday lives, we can be assured that God is at work, even when we don’t see immediate answers. Like Elizabeth, we may need to wait for His perfect timing, but we can rest assured that when His promises are fulfilled, they will bring joy, peace, and purpose to our lives. So, let us trust in God’s timing, celebrate His blessings with others, and continue to pray for the desires of our hearts, knowing that He is always faithful to answer.
Reflection Questions for Elizabeth’s Story: Trusting in God’s Timing and Embracing His Blessings
1. God’s Perfect Timing: Elizabeth waited for many years before receiving the blessing of a child. Are there any areas of your life where you feel like God's timing is delayed? How can you trust His timing in those areas, knowing He has a perfect plan?
2. Persistence in Prayer: Elizabeth and Zechariah were faithful in prayer, even during years of disappointment. How do you maintain your faith and persistence in prayer, especially when it feels like God isn’t answering immediately?
3. Celebrating Blessings with Others: Elizabeth celebrated God’s blessing and encouraged others, including Mary. How can you support and encourage other moms in their journeys, especially when you experience blessings or answered prayers in your own life?
4. Miracles in Ordinary Life: Elizabeth’s life was marked by the miracle of conception in her old age, but she didn’t live a life of grandeur. How can you recognize and celebrate God’s miracles in your everyday life, even when they seem small?
5. Trusting God’s Plan When Things Don’t Go As Expected: Elizabeth’s long wait for a child taught her to trust God’s plan. How can you embrace God’s will, even when things don’t go according to your expectations?
