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Elisabeth had a goodly heritage. She was “righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). She married a priest. She had been faithful in loving and serving her God. Elisabeth, by all conclusive standards, was doing all the right things.

Her name even means “God is my oath” or “worshipper of God.” Her entire life was devoted to the Lord. Yet she lacked the one thing that she desired most—a child. For years, Elisabeth remained faithful, serving alongside her husband. The Bible even calls her “blameless.” But her prayers for a child went unanswered during her childbearing season.

No doubt she had heard the stories of Hannah and how she wept bitterly, poured out her soul before the Lord, worshipped, and then conceived. Hannah’s answer seemed to come quickly after she worshipped the Lord, giving Him her all.

Elisabeth’s life was one of constant worship, yet she was well past childbearing years with no answer to her prayers, no relief from her longings, no child in her arms . . . until one day. In His perfect time, God delivered the answer to Elisabeth’s prayers. He gave her a son!

How similarly do we look at Bible characters like Hannah and follow her example, believing if God did it for her, He can do it for me? But what if God’s plan for your life is to be an Elisabeth? What if your barrenness lingers? Will you continue in faith like Elisabeth?

What area in your life is barren? Do you feel your prayers have gone unheard and unanswered?

Whatever your area of barrenness—whether it be literal infertility, the loss of a child (at any stage of life), a life of singleness that feels lonely, a sickness that plagues you with no healing in sight, a burden you carry that no one knows about—may we, like Elisabeth, carry on in faith. May we stay true to the Lord. May we never waver in our love for Him. His love has certainly not changed towards us.

Maybe your answer comes like Hannah’s. I pray it does. But if not, let us follow in Elisabeth’s footsteps and keep trusting, keep serving, keep loving Him regardless of how God answers.