For 400 years the people of Israel had been waiting for the coming of the Messiah. The prophets had foretold his coming, and the people waited, longing for his coming. Would he come in their lifetime? In their children’s? Grandchildren’s? How long?
Finally, the fist glimmers of light appear. Their hope dawns as an angel appears to Zechariah. Zechariah and his wife will have a son in their old age. Their son will prepare the way for the Messiah.
The Messiah came, lived, died, rose again, and ascended into heaven. Now we wait for the Messiah to come again as foretold by the prophets, and the apostles, and the Messiah himself. Are we longing for his coming? Might he come in our lifetime? In our children’s? Grandchildren’s?
And as we wait for our hope to dawn, are we as his church preparing the way for his coming? Are we a proclaiming the good news of Jesus, preparing people for his return?
(From Luke 1)
Brian J. Mikul 
Interesting you pick up on the waiting. Something about v10 made me want to look back at Malachi to see if there was any specific clue as to what they were ‘waiting’ and praying for.
Malachi 4:2 “But for you who revere my name, the son of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.”
Still, after 400 years, they are waiting for this healing. Little did they know it was just around the corner.