“And Zacharias said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.'” – Luke 1:18
Here we see the mistake we often make—Zacharias began to look at himself instead of God. How many times do we hear God’s Word, know what He is calling us to do, and then immediately measure it against our own limitations? Zacharias had prayed for this very thing to happen, yet when God’s divine intervention arrived, he shifted his focus from God’s power to his own weakness. Like the Israelites standing before the Red Sea, we can be tempted to see only the impossibility before us rather than the God who parts waters.
Gabriel’s response was clear: “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God” (Luke 1:19). It was as if he was saying, “Zacharias, this is not my word—it is God’s Word.” Gabriel, whose name means “mighty one of God,” had appeared before in Daniel’s visions, and Zacharias would have known his significance. Yet even with this heavenly messenger before him, Zacharias asked for proof beyond God’s Word. Abraham did the same in Genesis 15:8 when he asked, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?” Both men reveal our human tendency to doubt even when God Himself speaks. But faith is not about what we see—it is about trusting the One who speaks.
Because of his unbelief, Zacharias was struck mute until the promise was fulfilled, showing that while God’s Word is certain, unbelief can limit our participation in His work. Yet even in silence, God’s plan moved forward. Elizabeth conceived, rejoicing in God’s mercy, and John the Baptist was born to prepare the way for Christ. What a lesson for us today. When God speaks, believe Him. Do not measure His promises against your age, your resources, or your circumstances. Isaiah 55:9 reminds us, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways.” Faith opens the door to God’s promises, while unbelief resists them. Let us be people who trust, obey, and walk in faith, so that when God speaks, we are ready to receive His perfect plan.
“Unbelief is the great thief of our comforts, it questions the truth of God’s promises, and so deprives us of the joy we might have in them. Zacharias doubted the word of the angel, and though the mercy was still performed, his unbelief made him mute, that he might feel the grief of losing the comfort of believing.” – Richard Baxter
surrendered devotions 