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 call him John’” (Luke 1:13).

In this easily overlooked preface to the Christmas story, we meet Zechariah and Elizabeth, a ministry couple who had labored faithfully for the Lord. Luke 1:6 reveals that they were “righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.”

Yet they lived with the pain of unfulfilled dreams, unmet expectations, and — it seemed — unanswered prayers. Their infertility was a source of sorrow, as well as shame (verse 25). There were probably whispers in the community. Was Elizabeth under a curse from God? Had she sinned?

The couple must have wrestled with questions of their own. Had God not noticed Elizabeth’s barren womb and empty arms? Had He not heard their repeated requests for a child? The passing of time slowly snuffed out the flickering embers of hope. They were old, and the days of optimism had passed. Then, in a moment, everything changed.

Jesus is the answer to every longing, every cry for help, every whispered prayer.

Zechariah received an astonishing message: God had heard his prayer for a child and would bless them with an exceptional boy. Judging by the elderly priest’s incredulous response, it’s likely that Zechariah had not made such an audacious request in a long time.

But God had heard, and He had not forgotten. In fact, the Hebrew name Zechariah means “the Lord has remembered.”

The wondrous circumstances surrounding John the Baptist’s birth are a fitting introduction to what happened next in the timeline of history. After centuries of longing and waiting, another child was about to arrive on the scene: Jesus Christ — Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). He is the answer to every longing, every cry for help, every whispered prayer.

God hears. God remembers. God acts on our behalf. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

Perhaps you can relate to Elizabeth and Zechariah this holiday season. Maybe you have been toiling for years in a ministry setting that feels barren and fruitless. Or maybe you’re facing some other seemingly hopeless situation — an illness, a family struggle, financial challenges, depression or burnout. You’ve prayed, but nothing seems to change. You feel invisible, overlooked, forgotten.

Rest assured: God sees you. He knows what you’re going through. Your prayers have not escaped His notice. He is there, walking with you in your trials. The Lord remembers His promises, and He is faithful to keep them.

Let the message of Christmas reignite your hope and faith. The Prince of Peace is in your midst. And He has overcome the world. God has heard.