While reading over the scriptures in Luke chapter 1 telling the Christmas story, I began to think about Zacharias and his silence. The Bible says that both Zacharias and Elisabeth were righteous before God and well stricken in years. There is no doubt that they had seen Him perform miracles in their lives many times before. I’m sure they had prayed for a child faithfully for years. They may have come to the stage in their lives where they have accepted that it must not be God’s will. Zacharias reacted with fear when the angel showed up in the temple. Sometimes I think we all reach a point where we either accept that the answer we hoped for must not be what God planned and sometimes when God does send the answer we hoped for, we react in fear and doubt as if we’ve forgotten His faithfulness. There are times when we receive the hoped for answer in God’s time and we begin to question God about the blessing and wonder how things will possibly work out. It seems at those times we forget all those miracles He has already performed. We forget that He has never failed us and His promises are always true. Zacharias was promised joy and gladness. He was told of what a Godly man his son would be, yet there was still that little bit of doubt that made him question how it could be possible. How many times do we do the same? We have promises written down for us in God’s word and we too have seen Him work miracles in our own lives as well as others, yet there is still those moments of doubt. Zacharias’ voice was taken from him until his son was born. He was silent for nine months. Sometimes we need to be silent. God still keeps his promises in spite of the moments of doubt that we may have. I’m so glad He keeps his promises in spite of me and my weaknesses. He knows me yet he still loves and blesses me. God kept His promise to Elisabeth and Zacharias. They had a son named John and he became a wonderful man of God that lead many to follow God. His plans are always better than ours. He has proven it time and time again in our lives, yet sometimes we still have trouble letting go and letting Him move. He will keep His promises to you just as he did for them. Keep trusting in His word. Remember sometimes we need to just be silent and let God do His work. He is faithful.
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)