Delay is not denial

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 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 give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. (Luke 1:12-15)

I read this passage from Luke 1 last night, and was struck by the angel Gabriel's words to Zechariah - "Your prayer has been heard."

God's gift of a baby boy to Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth in their old age was in answer to their prayer. As John Wesley says, "God does nothing except in answer to prayer."

But what I've been pondering is how long ago Zechariah had prayed that prayer. Somehow, it seems he prayed that in times past. He probably prayed real earnestly. He might have persevered for years. But I think he eventually stopped, because he thought God had said no.

Of course I can't be sure he stopped praying. But the circumstantial evidence seems to suggest so, because when the angel announced this good news - that "Your prayer has been heard", Zechariah didn't really have the faith to believe this could be true anymore. He asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

I think Zechariah probably stopped praying because he thought God had said no to him. But what he thought was God's denial was actually just a delay. Perhaps even a long delay.

What he didn't know was that God always meant to answer his prayer. But God had to wait until it was time for Jesus to come, because He wanted to bless Zechariah with a son whose calling was to be the forerunner of Christ.

It reminded me of this beautiful poem I had read before ... that Delay is not necessarily Denial.

God always hears and answers prayer,
Though long may be the trial.
Let patience bloom while God prepares;
Delay is not denial.

When God would glorify His Name,
And make His blessing great;
The one whose heart God's will doth frame
Must sometimes pray and wait.

But come, the answer surely must,
For God has never lied.
And faith, which looks at God in trust,
God never has denied.

So when the weeks turn months, then years,
And doubt feign would defile,
Beseech the more and that with tears;
Delay is not denial.