And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 2: 36-38
[i]Aging, ill health, and many other life’s circumstances may draw an active Christian believer into what seems like a closet. Recently, many of my acquaintances have seemingly ended up at a complete stoppage of what had been an active, lifelong ministry. I, as well, can see myself in the same closet, whether temporary or a permanent one. Why are we there? How can our light shine to a dark world if we are hidden behind this closet door?
The above reference to Anna, the prophetess, is significant not just in her prophetic role, but have you ever considered how significant Anna’s actions in the Temple were prior to her prophetic moment?
In Bible times, a widow with no family would have no means of support; therefore, laws and provisions were outlined in the scriptures designed to safeguard her. Temple law had provision for widows to care for their welfare. Whether or not this happened on a regular basis, is a good question. When Jesus restored the life of the Widow of Nain’s, He gave her hope that she would be cared for by a family member and would not be left destitute (Luke 7: 11-17). Anna, chose to become a part of the temple, either living within the confines of the temple like the prophetess, Huldah, during the time of Josiah’s reign (2 Kings 22: 14-29), or coming there day and night to pray and fast. Anna’s widowhood had relegated her to life’s closet because of her circumstances. In that closet she let her light shine in a way that heralded the Light of the World. She worshipped. She worshipped by prayer and fasting, preparing her for the prophetic moment when the Son of God appeared. She began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Anna puts a framework to “closet shining” for today’s Christ followers who are sidelined by circumstances.
You may have taught Sunday school classes for fifty years, but now you are too old and shaky to stand before a group of 30-something young women. Be an Anna. You may have preached from the pulpit for forty years, but now you have had health issues that put you in the closet. Be an Anna. You may have volunteered for mission teams or a local para-church ministry most of your adult life, but all that has stopped. Be an Anna. You may have loved working in the church nursery or teaching the little ones, but the children are too active for your weaknesses now. Be an Anna. You may have thought you had your entire life ahead to serve the Lord, but the diagnosis is chronic, and you will have to step aside. Be an Anna.
There are various ways to function as an Anna. For Anna prayer and fasting became the core of her ministry. (Fasting is not always abstinence from food and drink. Fasting is to refrain from anything that distracts you from your communion with God.) Anna communed with God.
- Do you have a daily prayer list from your church? Pray for each person on their “day,” and communicate with them, if possible, to determine their specific needs.
- Has God put someone or something on your mind needing His direction or help? Pray about the issue.
- Write your prayers.
- Those kids you used to teach in Sunday school. Call them and ask how things are going. If you are able, see if they’d like to go out for coffee or an ice cream. Spend time with them and see if they need help and you will learn how to pray for them.
- You used to volunteer: contact the organization to ask for specific prayer needs beyond their newsletter.
- You can pray for a world lost and hell bound, and for God to send another light to them
- Pray for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ the Light of the world.
We have no idea what prayers Anna made over those decades of her prayer meetings in the temple, but we know God used them to proclaim the Savior. If God has placed you in the closet, you may not even have enough light to comprehend beyond the dark space you have found yourself, but you still have a light to share in your prayers for others and for the Light of the world to shine for eternity in His return for His church.
Challenge: Whether you are in the “closet” or out among the dark world, how will you shine your light for the Light of the world?
Prayer: Father God, we want to serve You and be a light, and at times You may place us in a dark place where we are unsure of how to reflect our Savior. Help us to see beyond the closets of obscurity and send Your light to the ends of the earth through our prayers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
[i] This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
