Elizabeth was childless. For many years she and her husband, Zechariah, carried this burden in their prayers to the Lord. They waited on the Lord together. They hoped in the Lord together. But for reasons they did not yet understand, it was not to be. Well along in years, the hope of having a child had faded in their hearts until it had disappeared entirely. It was no longer possible.

But on an extraordinary autumn day, Elizabeth and her husband learned that nothing is impossible for God.

Impossible joy

Elizabeth waited with the crowd as her husband burned incense in the Holy Place. This was a special honor for Zechariah. When he reappeared before the crowd, however, they realized that it had been special for him in a far greater way: “They realized he had seen a vision in the temple” (Luke 1:22).

Can you imagine Elizabeth’s reaction when Zechariah finally explained in writing what the angel told him? We don’t have to imagine Zechariah’s reaction. It’s impossible!

But God’s messenger said that it’s not only possible, but also that his words “will come true at their proper time” (Luke 1:20). How could this be? Gabriel later explained to another shocked woman named Mary: “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:36,37).

The Lord showed great favor to Elizabeth in granting her a son. The many tears of sorrow shed by Elizabeth were now replaced by tears of joy as she prepared to hold her newborn son in her arms.

Still, the Lord had a far greater act of grace in store for her.

Impossible faith

Even before John was born, Elizabeth received a visit from Mary. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41).

The Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth’s heart. He enabled her to believe the impossible—that the child now present in Mary’s womb was her almighty Lord! The Holy Spirit enabled Elizabeth to believe the impossible about the child in her own womb—that he would “be called a prophet of the Most High for [he] will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God . . .” (Luke 1:76-78).

“But why am I so favored?” Elizabeth asked at the Holy Spirit’s prompting. The Holy Spirit answered that question: “Because of the tender mercy of our God.”