One of the biggest things we can take away from today’s Gospel is knowledge of the fact that the afflictions we face, even if they seem like curses to the world around us, can actually be exactly what God is using to help us receive Him more. We read that because Elizabeth was barren and advanced in years, her and Zechariah had no children. From here, we see Zechariah doubt the angel when he tells him that they will conceive a son. At this time, childlessness was seen as a curse and an effect of sin. However, God was using Elizabeth’s affliction to bring about a great blessing to the world in the person of St. John the Baptist, who helped prepare people for the Lord’s coming. What was seen as a curse in the eyes of society was the very thing God was using to bring about this great blessing.
It is too often that like Zechariah, we are quick to feel despair at the sight of a hardship in our lives. These types of things can cause us to doubt God’s goodness and faithfulness, but it is important to know that He does not let anything go to waste. He knows the perfect time; He knows when we will be ready to receive his blessings. So, even though waiting may be hard, we are called to put full trust in God and to know that the wait is preparing us to fully appreciate what He has in store. We need not doubt God’s power and His ability to use each of us as part of His plan. The hardships we face can easily be used to help others see God’s power. Nothing is wasted in God’s hands.