Luke 1: 78-79

“…because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Zechariah was an old man when he was told by an angel from God that his prayers would be answered–though childless, he and his wife Elizabeth would bear a son in their old age who would “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zechariah understandably doubted: “How can I be sure of this?” and lost his ability to speak until the time came to name his son, at which time “his tongue was set free.”

So he sang a beautiful song of prophesy about his son John and the One who is to come, about the light amid the darkness.  He sings of the tender mercy of our God, a most touching confession from one who had doubted only months before.

Despite all our doubting and uncertainty, despite all the evidence of His loving sacrifice for us, despite our dwelling in the shadows, the rising son comes to us out of God’s tender mercy and caring for us.

Our feet will find the path of peace, one step at a time, one heart beat following another.