Faith Over FearSample

Elizabeth had lived with the heartache of unanswered prayer. She and her husband Zechariah were faithful people, serving God day after day, year after year…but the dream of having a child had faded with time. Then, unexpectedly, everything changed. An angel announced that they would have a son, and Elizabeth became pregnant.

We don’t hear much about Elizabeth’s fears, but they must have been there. After all the years of hoping and waiting, could she really believe this was happening? Still, she chose to trust. She recognised that God was doing something new, even when it didn’t make sense.

Instead of giving in to fear or doubt, Elizabeth responded with faith. When she became pregnant, she said, ‘The Lord has done this for me’ (Luke 1:25 NIV), giving God credit for her joy.

Later, when Mary came to visit, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and immediately recognised that Mary was carrying the promised Messiah. She called Mary ‘the mother of my Lord’ (Luke 1:43 NIV). She saw what others might have missed and spoke words of blessing and affirmation.

Elizabeth’s story shows us that faith doesn’t always mean having everything figured out. Sometimes it means holding on quietly, trusting God when the timing seems strange, and recognising his work even when we don’t fully understand it.

Faith over fear means choosing to believe that God is still working, even when the answers are delayed or the path ahead is unclear. Elizabeth reminds us that God’s timing is often different from ours, but it’s never too late for hope.

Where are you waiting on God right now? What would it mean for you to act in faith, even without all the answers?

Lord, help me to trust you when things don’t happen in my timing. Even when I feel afraid or unsure, give me faith to believe that you are still working. Amen.