Luke 1: 5-25

In the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, there was a priest named Zachariah of the course of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous before God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense offering. There appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Zachariah saw him and he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, "Fear not Zachariah, because your prayer has been heard; and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb, and will turn many of the children to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." And Zachariah said to the angel, how shall I know this for I am an old man, and my wife is well stricken in years?" And the angel said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stands before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day that these things take place because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time." Meanwhile there were people waiting for Zachariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then when the days of his ministry were completed, he went home. After a time, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months saying, "So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away may disgrace before others." 
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Father, our prayers rise to heaven, but You already know what our needs are. We often feel as though our prayers are not answered, but at a time known only to You, we will receive the answer to every question or prayer, in this life or the next. A loving Father always gives His children what they desire, as long as it pleases Him. Amen.