Do You Still Believe?
“And then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” - Luke 2:37-38
Over the last few days, we have talked about waiting on God. Waiting is something we see countless times throughout Scripture. It is an essential part of our faith journey. When I think of waiting, I am reminded of a perfect example of this in Luke 2.
The woman in this story gives us a clear picture of what waiting looks like. After probing her story, if any of us had the choice to live her life, we would not. The woman’s name is Anna. This is a woman who, by ancient standards, comes from the “wrong side of the tracks.”
She comes from an insignificant tribe, she is a senior, she is not married, and she does not have kids.
In that culture, the defining measure of a woman’s significance and perceived contribution to society was predicated on getting married and having a child. And so, with four strikes against her, no one wanted to be Anna.
Yet, this woman was a prophetess. That means she was someone who spoke on behalf of God. Luke 2:37-38 says, “And then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Here is a woman who, when everything was against her, still believed in God.
The question is, do you? You might say, “Of course I believe in God. But I don’t understand why this or that is happening.
The thing is, God doesn’t always ask us to understand why... Do you think Anna knew why God allowed the deck to be stacked against her? Anna wasn’t mentioned in the Bible because she had adverse circumstances.
We know her because despite those circumstances she continued to trust God and to believe. Despite what is going on in your life, do you still believe?
Over the last few days, we have talked about waiting on God. Waiting is something we see countless times throughout Scripture. It is an essential part of our faith journey. When I think of waiting, I am reminded of a perfect example of this in Luke 2.
The woman in this story gives us a clear picture of what waiting looks like. After probing her story, if any of us had the choice to live her life, we would not. The woman’s name is Anna. This is a woman who, by ancient standards, comes from the “wrong side of the tracks.”
She comes from an insignificant tribe, she is a senior, she is not married, and she does not have kids.
In that culture, the defining measure of a woman’s significance and perceived contribution to society was predicated on getting married and having a child. And so, with four strikes against her, no one wanted to be Anna.
Yet, this woman was a prophetess. That means she was someone who spoke on behalf of God. Luke 2:37-38 says, “And then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Here is a woman who, when everything was against her, still believed in God.
The question is, do you? You might say, “Of course I believe in God. But I don’t understand why this or that is happening.
The thing is, God doesn’t always ask us to understand why... Do you think Anna knew why God allowed the deck to be stacked against her? Anna wasn’t mentioned in the Bible because she had adverse circumstances.
We know her because despite those circumstances she continued to trust God and to believe. Despite what is going on in your life, do you still believe?
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2023
January
The Disease of PerfectionismThe Perfect WaveJust StartJust the Way You AreYou Are FreeThe Blessing of ImperfectionDon’t Go Back!When They Miss The MarkSee It ThemselvesValueLove Your EnemiesQualified by GodCan You Just Enjoy the Trip?Greater is HeEveryone Has a Story to TellWho Needs Your Story?It All Has PurposeThe Shoulders on Which We StandRemember Your PastGreater Than UsAre You a Worrier?God is in ControlEven The BirdsHis WillHis WayHis TimeDo Not Be AnxiousLook Beyond the BarrierThank HimThe Peace of GodGuard Your HeartGuard Your Mind
February
Keep on TickingStoned but Not StoppedSomeone Needs Your EndingGuaranteed VictoryNext in LineYou’re That ImportantIt’s Not That EasyContinue in the FaithSee It ThemselvesAnyone Can Do ThatSeeing is Not BelievingHERE and NOWThings Not SeenNothing Can Stop YouWill You Stay in The Game?You Never ImaginedYou Can Live...With ItBounce BackYou Don’t Have to WaitYou Don’t Need PermissionHe Can Handle ItA God of ComfortHe Sees YouHe Secures YouHe Shows YouHiding in HolinessFreedom in ChristRoom For a Miracle
March
A God of HopeImpossible to PleaseAnything is PossibleA Powerful PostureUnfinishedHope Anchors Our LivesHope Gives Us AccessHope Enables PerseveranceWaiting With ExpectationStuck on What’s BehindTomorrow’s ScriptStill PossibleStill TrueYou Have Favor"I’m Good"You Missed ItThe Pain of RegretMissing JesusThe Back BurnerKnowledge Isn’t EnoughProfits and PromotionsThe One You MissGO NOWWhat Are You Looking For?Call on HimWorth the WaitHe is Not SlowWaiting on YOUDo You Still Believe?Remaining in God’s PresenceEverything You Need
No Comments