Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
— Luke 1:18 (NIV)
Zechariah’s response to the angel’s message in Luke 1:18 is one many of us can relate to: “How can I be sure of this?” After years of longing for a child, Zechariah is faced with a promise that seems too impossible to believe. Though he is a priest, a man of faith, his first instinct is to question God’s plan. This moment highlights the tension between human limitations and the vast, limitless power of God.
As we reflect on this verse, we realize that Advent is also a season of waiting for the promises of God to be fulfilled. In the midst of our expectations, it’s easy to let doubt creep in—especially when the answers we hope for seem delayed or impossible. Zechariah’s question reminds us that even the most faithful can wrestle with doubt when God’s plans are beyond our understanding. However, the angel’s response isn’t one of condemnation but reassurance, reminding Zechariah that God’s promises are trustworthy, no matter how improbable they may seem.
In the same way, Advent invites us to wrestle with our doubts and uncertainties, while also focusing on God’s faithfulness. Just as Zechariah’s miracle came to pass in God’s perfect timing, we too are called to wait expectantly for the fulfillment of God’s promises, trusting that His ways are higher than ours and that He will accomplish what He has said.
Prayer
God, like Zechariah, we sometimes struggle with doubt when faced with Your promises. Help us to trust You fully, even when we don’t see how things will unfold. Strengthen our faith during this Advent season, reminding us that nothing is impossible for You. May we wait expectantly, knowing that You are always at work in our lives. Amen.
Reflection Questions
These questions are designed to help you reflect more deeply on the themes of trust, obedience, and waiting on God’s timing during Advent.
- Have you ever struggled with doubt when facing God’s promises or plans? How did you respond?
- In what areas of your life do you need to trust God more fully during this Advent season?
- What can you do to focus more on God’s faithfulness rather than the limitations you see in your own life?