Difficulties can be the backdrop to God's miraculous intervention.

Backdrop is a theatrical term. It describes the background of a stage production. It may be an elaborately painted scene covering the back of the stage. Or it may simply be curtains. It may even be the blank back wall of the stage. But whatever the stage setting, the actors do their work against the backdrop.

God does some of His miraculous works against dark backdrops. A case in point appears in the story of the birth of John the Baptist, Jesus' forerunner. John's birth was nothing less than a miracle. How do we know that? The backdrop tells us so.

Luk 15 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
Luk 1:6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly.
Luk 1:7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

Luke 15-7 describes this backdrop. It introduces John's father and mother, Zechariah and Elizabeth (verse 5). Verse 6 pictures the positive qualities of their lives. They were godly people, living in obedience to the Lord. But the next verse tells us they were childless - and getting on in years. Both time and nature worked against them, but this did not stop God from giving them the child He had chosen for them to parent.

While Zechariah served in the temple, an angel appeared to him (verses 8-11) and announced to Zechariah that God had heard his prayer.

Luk 1:8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
Luk 1:9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
Luk 1:10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Luk 1:11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

Elizabeth would become pregnant with a child who was to be named John

Luk 1:13 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.

Zechariah could not believe what he heard

Luk 1:18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

but it came to pass

Luk 1:24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.

Do not let your difficulties keep you from believing God for the miracle you need. Instead, see your difficulties as a backdrop for your miracle. Follow the example of Zechariah and his wife. Continue to live faithfully for God, and do not stop praying and believing. Always keep in mind: God does His most radiant works against the backdrop of some of the darkest moments of His followers.

Lord, help me to trust You, even when the backdrop of my circumstances is dark.

MARVIN GRAVES