It is easy to forget that the Bible tells us about the events in the lives of real people that took place during specific times and places. The Gospel of Luke is not a "Once Upon a Time" story or fiction about events that took place "A Long Time Ago in a Land Far Far Away." Today's reading is about real people, Zechariah and Elizabeth who lived in the land of Judah during the time of King Herod.
Herod ruled over Judea for the Roman Empire before the birth of Jesus, so that was in the last few decades before the Birth of Christ. (B.C. means Before Christ) Zechariah and Elizabeth were real people. They were too old to have children and lived with the disgrace back then of not having any children. But they continued to love, trust and serve the Lord.
When we face disappointments, when our lives are not working out the way we want, when the world around us is not what we want or hope for, we can still put our trust in the Lord because He always loves and cares for us. Since God was working things out for the good of His people when Herod had his reign of terror and the Roman Empire occupied Israel, He can certainly be working in our world, nation, state, and lives today.