God speaks through the prophet Malachi in around 400 BC, and then we continue the story by simply turning over the delicate pages of our bibles to start the New Testament. But those pages are weighty. They're heavy with 400 years of waiting in silence. Not a word from heaven. Nothing.

Until 4BC, which we read about in Luke chapter 1, when an angel appears to a priest while he's on duty in the temple. This angel promises him and his wife a baby, John the Baptist, who is a messenger sent by God to 'prepare the way before' Christ as prophesied by Malachi all those years ago.

I'm struck by what it says about this couple in Luke 1:6 'both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly'. What faithfulness they showed in a time of waiting and watching for God to fulfil his promise?!

My question for you is, are you waiting well? Are you expectant? Are you frustrated and anxious waiting for birth, or have you relaxed into the waiting as a time of preparing and softening? Are you preparing for his arrival? Or have you given up hoping? It might be tricky to hold onto hope considering the relentless staffing pressures and difficulties we face at work.

Please join with me in praying: