In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, (whose wife was Elizabeth).  Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.  But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest … an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.  When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

Luke 1:5-14

Reading this story with my family this morning reminded me that righteous living does not insulate us from suffering.  The privilege of being a part of God’s plans is often accompanied by dark times.  Elizabeth and Zechariah were chosen to be the parents of John the Baptist, whom Jesus called the greatest man ever born of woman (Matt 11:11).  This privilege starts with decades of gut wrenching, disappointing, humiliating infertility.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth … to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph …  The virgin’s name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Luke 1:26-28

Mary is revered as the mother of our Lord Jesus.  But this favored status brought her much grief:  an out of wedlock pregnancy, her new born son hunted by King Herod, watching this son tortured and crucified on a cross …

Surely we all suffer in this life with the consequences of our sins.  But is it possible, that some of your trials have come because you have been entrusted with a great purpose?  That your suffering, from the point of view of heaven, is an honor?  A privledge?  When we are called to love and that call brings suffering, we are being given a gift, an opportunity to know in a deep and rich way the Savior of the world.

I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him … I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death …

Apostle Paul in Phil 3:8-10

*bold face emphasis mine