The “Fear Not” of Answered Prayer

“And when Zacharias saw him (the angel), he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, ‘Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.’” (Luke 1:12-13)

Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth were good, elderly, Godly people. But they had no child and they were past the age of child bearing. Evidently they had prayed often that God would give would give them a child. Perhaps they had given up on the idea of a child. They would keep on being faithful servants of God, however. Zacharias was afraid when he saw the angel but the angel reassured him saying, “Fear not, Zacharias, thy prayer is heard.”

God has never placed Himself on man’s time schedule. He often answers our prayers when we finish praying. Other times He may answer our prayers when we have given up. He answers prayer on His own schedule in His own way and for His glory. “Fear not,” the angel said. This is the “fear not” of answered prayer. It is the first of four “fear nots” of the Christmas season. Fear not, for John, the forerunner of the Messiah, is coming to prepare the way of the Lord. John would be called the prophet of the Highest.

The Messiah, Jesus, has come and we are celebrating His birth. He is living in the hearts of believers around the world. When we are afraid of life, or the unknown, or that which we do know, we must pray. As an old song says, “Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”