BARREN NO MORE

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because 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 at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

Luke 1:13-15

Think about the barren women in the Bible. Sarah conceived in her old age and gave birth to the child through whom all nations would be blessed. Rachel’s sister outdid her in the giving birth category, but when the Lord opened Rachel’s womb, he blessed her with Joseph who would save his people from famine. Hannah prayed for a son and promised to give him back to the Lord, and Samuel became the last judge and a prophet who would anoint Israel’s first and second kings. God directed Samuel to choose David as Saul’s successor. Ruth thought she might never have children, not due to her own barrenness, but because her husband died, leaving her childless. God provided the kinsman-redeemer Boaz, and she gave birth to the grandfather of King David. Elizabeth was barren, and like Sarah, was too old to conceive. However, the Lord opened her womb, and she gave birth to John the Baptist, the one who would prepare the way of the Lord, who while still in his mother’s womb recognized the Messiah’s mother and leapt for joy!

Perhaps you are feeling “barren,” not literally but in your usefulness to the Lord. Keep praying. When He does give you a mission, obey Him, and be prepared for Him to do great things!

Father, we know that You can bless people with biological children miraculously or provide adopted children in unusual ways. You also give us spiritual children, the fruit of our testimonies and time spent discipling new believers. Lord, do not leave us barren in that second category, the spiritual children. Give us people to lead into Your Kingdom and nurture in Your ways.