Day 8: When We Are Faithless, God is Faithful
Reading: Luke 1:18-25
Zechariah’s disbelief in the message he received from the angel about the birth of his son John is met with swift consequences. He lost his ability to speak. Luke 1:19-20 says:
“The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not be able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” (Luke 1:19-20 NIV)
Zechariah would still receive his blessing, but his lack of faith would prevent him from enjoying it. I wonder how many of us do the same? We pray for something, and then when the Lord answers, instead of responding with expectation and gratefulness, we respond with skepticism and disbelief. Why pray if we’re going to allow doubt and worry to rob us of the joy of God answering? However, when you’ve been waiting for something for so long, it’s hard to expect better.
We’ll soon find out that God is in the business of doing the impossible. He’s the God of making new ways out of no way, like in the case of Zechariah and Elizabeth and when we are faithless, He is always faithful. Despite Zechariah’s doubts, God kept His promise, John the Baptist was born, and God’s promised Messiah was well on His way.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for keeping Your promises even when I lack faith. May I not look to past circumstances for faith, but Your present promise. In Jesus Christ’s Name, I pray, Amen.