Reward for patience and persistence

This morning I read the story from Luke about Zechariah (chapter 1). Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were older adults, married for quite some time, and childless. Zechariah goes into the inner sanctuary of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem to offer incense. While there he meets the angel Gabriel who tells him that his wife will become pregnant and bear a child. To me, the miracle is not that Elizabeth would be pregnant. The miracle to me is that Zechariah kept praying for a child for a number of years. Gabriel tells Zechariah, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard." It seems that deep in Zechariah's heart was a desire to be a father. He wanted a child. This deep desire, a burning deep in Zechariah's soul, manifested itself into a prayer request, a continual request to God.

I think I would have given up. Especially as the years passed...the same request prayed for a decade with no answer from God. The body begins to age. As the years turn into a decade or two my prayer to God for a child probably would be ended. I probably would conclude that God's answer is "no" and I better get on with life and face the reality of God's negative answer. Bitter? Yes. Hopeful? Not much.

And yet, Zechariah persists in prayer and FINALLY God answers.

What have I prayed for in the past that I have given up on because of time? Who have I been praying for but seen little if no results of God's activity in their lives? Will I give up praying? What is deep inside my soul that I want, but don't think I will ever get, especially as I consider the times, age factors, and the "reality" of this situation? God is not locked into our reality. I need to remember that. With God the right time to answer prayer is the right time. Timing is everything. Am I am able to persist and be patient in prayer? Can I keep the communication lines open between me and God?