This pandemic has taken our lives and upended them in such a way that what was once familiar, second nature even, is no longer recognizable. I recently spoke to one of my mentor’s a minister’s wife in Maryland, and when we talked about this pandemic, I told her that I felt like we were in a season of death. All around us, people are grieving the loss of physical life, their social life, and in some ways, elements of our spiritual life because many of us are unable to gather the way we used to. What God does not want any of us to do, is to become so conditioned to this season of death and loss that we forget to get ready to rejoice! Because trouble does NOT last always. What we see in Luke are two types of people expecting a Savior. One is Simeon, a man who was promised to see Christ before death.
One is Ana, who reveled in the revelation of Christ, readied her heart, and rejoiced while reaching those who needed redemption.
Ana is an extraordinary example of being ready to rejoice over the work of God and the manifestation of God. How? Why?
- She was in a prime position: dedication is visible, and for the majority of her adult life, Ana could be found in the temple worshipping God through prayer and fasting. The significant application for us is that God sees. I think of Hagar, who was the first person in scripture to call the Lord by name. In Genesis 16:13, she said, “she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” Like Hagar, Ana’s life had panned out differently than she had once thought, but God saw her dedication and blessed her for being committed to Him. Isn’t that when God decides to show Himself to us?
- She was not distant or distracted: Often we do not see God or hear God because we have obstructed the lines of communication. When is the last time you fasted? When is the last time you prayed and fasted? We cannot expect to be close to God unless we’re closing our ears to the things that push us away from Him.
- She immediately took action: One of my personal mantras is delayed obedience is not obedience. When Ana saw that the baby was in fact the Christ, she immediately went out to share that good news. How can we be ready to rejoice at the coming of our Savior if we’re delaying on the revelation?
To wrap up, let’s consider:
Has the season of death destructed so much of your life that you are unable and unprepared to rejoice for the good works of God? Have you taken so many losses this year that you are not ready to win more battles for the Lord? After all, don’t we sing “Oh victory, in Jesus!” My prayer for YOU and ME is to remain steadfast. In this world, we WILL have trouble; Jesus told us so. But my Bible also says, “rejoice always.” In this season and out of season, through the love and life of Christ, position your heart to be ready to rejoice.
Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.