Week 1
Luke 1:5-25
In the middle of silence, disappointment, and long-held ache, God is quietly at work. After centuries of waiting and wondering if God had forgotten his promises, hope begins to stir again — not with fireworks, but in the ordinary lives of faithful people who are carrying deep pain alongside deep devotion.
Zechariah and Elizabeth know what it is to keep showing up, keep praying, and keep trusting while feeling misunderstood and overlooked. Their story reminds us how familiar that tension can feel: longing for God to act while living in a world full of injustice, suffering, and unanswered questions. And then, suddenly, God speaks. Not only to reassure them personally, but to show that he has never abandoned his promises.
John’s role is to help people lift their heads — to stop staring at shame, fear, and failure, and to look up again. Repentance isn’t about being crushed by guilt; it’s about making space to see God clearly. As forgiveness comes, freedom follows, and light begins to break into the darkness.
What looks like delay turns out to be preparation. What feels like personal pain is caught up in something far bigger. God hears every prayer, sees every reproach, and brings release in his time. And astonishingly, he invites ordinary people — with all their questions, fears, and hopes — to be part of his unfolding plan of salvation. In every shadowed place, Jesus is still the light, still restoring, still setting people free.
You can find a study guide for this session here
Three reflection points
God’s silence is not God’s absence — waiting seasons often prepare us for deeper trust and greater joy.
Repentance lifts our eyes rather than lowers our heads; forgiveness creates space for freedom and hope.
Our personal stories — even the painful parts — are woven into God’s bigger work of bringing light to the world.
Three questions
Where do I feel like I’ve been waiting a long time for God to move or speak?
What might it look like for me to lift my eyes again — away from shame, fear, or disappointment — and look toward Jesus?
How could God be inviting me, right now, to be part of what he is doing in the lives of others?
Three prayer points
For hope in waiting: Pray for renewed trust in God’s promises during seasons of silence or delay.
For freedom and release: Ask God to lift burdens of guilt, reproach, or weariness, and to bring forgiveness and peace.
For readiness and courage: Pray to be open and responsive to God’s work, and willing to point others to Jesus, the light of the world.