Text: Luke 1:18-25, Romans 4:19-21
Righteous.
Blameless.
A priest of high repute.
These are the words that we’ve been given to describe Zechariah.
He is a man with a heart for God, and the Scripture wants to make that clear from the beginning. But Zechariah has also faced struggle. When we meet him, he is an elderly man who has never had children because his wife is barren.
One day, as was the custom, he enters the temple to burn incense while the people wait outside. As he approaches the altar of incense, Scripture tells us there is an angel sitting just to the right-hand side of where he will make his offering.
Zechariah was a man of duty, and the angel of God appears where he won’t be missed; right beside the altar he will approach in holy responsibility.
He is overcome with fear at the sight, and after the angel assures him he doesn’t need to be afraid, he whispers words Zechariah has probably never imagined would be spoken: “Your prayer has been answered; your wife will have a son and name him John…”
How could it be? After all, he’s well past his child-bearing years. He isn’t shy about making that point to the angel, either.
In response, the angel offers his name—Gabriel. In addition, he offers an explanation:
“Because of your disbelief, you’ll be unable to speak until this prophecy is realized.”
But Zechariah was a righteous man. A man who walked blamelessly; and because of this, he’ll be struck dumb? Why?
Because obeying the law isn’t the same as true belief.
The kind of faith God wants—the kind that is credited to us as righteousness—is that of Abraham’s, who believed in spite of his circumstances (Romans 4:19-21).
It’s the belief that lifts our heads from the words on the page and looks to the God who speaks them over us.
It’s the trust that comes when everything around you says, “impossible,” and yet you dare to hope anyway.
It’s the audacity to believe that His promises apply to us.
God silenced Zechariah until he could speak from a place that could actually testify to His power from personal experience.
He knew that on this day, Zechariah would walk into the temple out of duty. But He also knew he would walk out with something much more powerful; the faith that comes from an encounter with the living God.
It isn’t just about the pages; it’s about the Person.
It’s not only law; it’s love.
Lift your eyes, beloved.
If you’ve come here out of obligation, be sure you don’t leave that way.
The living God has given you a story and a voice to speak of Him; may your lips and your lives tell the story for the rest of your days.
______
Angie Smith is a speaker and the best-selling author of Mended, I Will Carry You, What Women Fear, and the recently released For Such A Time Is This. She holds a Master’s Degree in Developmental Psychology from Vanderbilt University and lives with her husband Todd and their daughters in Nashville, Tennessee.
For an added layer of worship during this sweet season of adoration and expectation, we’ve created a Spotify playlist for Advent 2014! You can find the complete SheReadsTruth | O Come Let Us Adore Him playlist at this link, or listen to today’s track on the player below. Enjoy!
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84 thoughts on "Zechariah is Struck Silent"
It’s 2024 and this post is still a blessing. I needed this word. Thank you.
The kind of faith God wants—the kind that is credited to us as righteousness—is that of Abraham’s, who believed in spite of his circumstances (Romans 4:19-21).
I have needed this more that I can say. it is so hard to have 'Abraham' faith when everything around me is saying, "You've got to be kidding me!" To hold onto hope when it seems that God would have already done it, if He was going to. To drive a stake in it and hold on with your dear life.
It’s the trust that comes when everything around you says, “impossible,” and yet you dare to hope anyway.
It’s the audacity to believe that His promises apply to us.
Love this! Obeying out of obligation is slavery! Obedience that flows from a grateful heart is freedom!!
Seriously what I needed to hear. Kudos!
“Because obeying the law isn’t the same as true belief.” Oh my how I need to remember this every day.
“If you came here out of obligation, don’t leave that way.”
Beautiful. All of it. Love how Angie Smith ministers with her words. I’m so looking forward to the Christmas party tonight.
Thank you, Angie. This spoke to me deeply.
oh my mouth. my big fat mouth.
it leads me astray. moves before i think. lashes out before i love. and is a wellspring of what is in my heart.
ouch. my heart. oh my fickle can't be trusted heart.
like Zechariah i need to be muted.
in that silence i will:
listen to God
read His Word
pray it back to Him
be still and know who He is above what is raging around me
this is another one to add to my obituary: Rom 4:21
No unbelief made Kendall waver concerning the promise of God, but she grew strong in her faith as she gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He promised to her.
this would be an awesome legacy to leave behind. thank you Father.
amen sister!
loved your comment!
i need to be muted also!
Also makes me think of the verse in Job, “I had heard rumors about You, but now my eyes have seen You” (42:5). We all have to come to this initial “my eyes have seen You” moment … but then our faith is strengthened as we keeping “seeing God” in life
Read this several times trying to figure out what exactly was grabbing me. I think it’s this: “Faith is … the audacity to believe that His promises apply to us [in spite of seemingly impossible circumstances]”. Because, really, if I understand how it works, it’s not really faith. Faith implies that I believe … because of WHO God is. Not because of what I see. And “without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God!”
Help me tell your story Father…use me in my brokenness. may I never give up hope and truly believe Your promises are for me!
I love that God wants us to live the faith we find in encounters with Him. It fuels my love for my savior to know he wants me to live in this way.
-Father I pray you open my ears and heart to encounters with you so that I may live in faith and not in duty! Amen.
There are so many promises given to us by our Great Savior.
'God makes a home for the lonely.'
'God is near to the brokenhearted.'
'For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and never harm you.'
'Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hand.'
Faith for me lately has been believing that God is not just good, but good to me. (As said by Sara Hagerty in Every Bitter Thing is Sweet).
Faith…It’s the audacity to believe that His promises apply to us…These are such sweet words that I needed to hear today. The enemy consistently bombards my mind with doubt, fear and worry. I look over my life and think "what a mess I've made" I deserve punishment. I didn't listen and now I have to pay the consequences. I have to constantly remind myself that I am worthy. There is nothing that I have done or could ever do to take His love from me. Hard for me to believe since I don't know and have never felt a love like that on this earth. From this day forward… I will have that AUDACITY to believe that His promises apply to me and I will not allow the enemy to tell me otherwise!!
Lord allow me to give you ALL the glory!! Not an ounce of doubt on my darkest days! Your promises are always true and Yes in You! Show me and teach me to worry less and to hand it over! You are in control! Keep me close to Your side and keep me yearning for more! Remind me of Your promises!
The last couple of devotions have hit me hard because of a number of circumstances today. 1. I’ve had a lapse in an eating disorder when I had previously been doing so well. 2. I am from Sydney and am devastated by the loss of innocent life, and the fear and darkness that is spreading around my country. Encouraged today to look up to the One who makes the promises. And believe in His faithfulness and the hope in Him despite my current circumstances. One day He will return and bring peace and unity to this earth. Darkness will not survive the light of the Lord.
So sorry for the tragedy in your town over the past day or two. I pray you find peace to overcome the fear in so many hearts today. Hugs!
I’ve loved this study from the beginning, but no other day has struck me so profoundly. I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 5, and grew up in a legalistic church. It’s so easy to fall back into that works-minded, appearance-driven “faith”. I feel as though I am constantly learning that the law is not what matters; love is. Thank you so much for the reminder of God’s unwavering love!
Thank you to everyone who replied they helped me a lot.
Pretty much wept through this whole thing today – the Scripture & the devotion. Had to continually put it down, cry, listen, ask, listen, cry and read again…. Thank you.
Right there with you, sister. Praying He would wrap you in His love today. Blessings to you, friend!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
I needed this, as it is now day 245 of the Chibok girls' captivity, and I find myself acting out of a dead obedience instead of a sure belief. Jesus, help my disbelief, no matter the amount of days we've waited for your promises to come true (as found in Isaiah 62)! They will come to pass– not in our time frame or ways, but they will come to pass. May we believe this strongly! In Jesus' name. Amen!
–AnnaLee
I have a hard time believing that I am worthy of God's promises. It's not because I've done something so terrible and regretful or anything, but because I feel like I don't obey Him as I should (so therefore why would He lavish His promises on me?). I've made poor financial choices that have left me and my family unable to give a true 10% tithe. I lose my temper sometimes and say things I don't mean. I give into gossip at work.
The thing is though, God still sees me as worthy of His promises because He is full of grace and mercy. Because He isn't just about His law but also about love. Thank you for this reminder that God's promises don't hinge on how close to perfectly obeying Him I can come, but rather they hinge on whether or not I believe that God will do what He says He will do, that I have that bold and audacious faith. I believe, help my unbelief.
Love your dad, just as he is, sweet girl. Jesus set the example: He loves us just as we are, knowing we sin and need to change. Your dad is no different from you or me…a sinner needing the grace God offers. Love him and pray for him, as you do for all of us sinners saved by grace.
Mmm, yup this is right where I am today. You see, I think I struggle a lot with the belief that God's promises come true. I think back, and I feel I've had so many experiences where things I've asked for just never materialize. But God's promises are not, "You WILL get what you ask." They are all, "I WILL be with you," and "ALL things work together for good." Who am I to dictate what "good" really is for me?
I have Emmmanuel, God With Me, and that is very good. His promise has already come true!
“It isn’t just about the pages; it’s about the Person. It’s not only law; it’s love.
Lift your eyes, beloved.”
YES YES YES
Awesome message today! Thank you Angie!!
This is my favorite day so far. Obedience isn’t the same thing as belief… So good.
Rachel, so thankful you joined us today! We love having you in our community!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Obeying the law isn’t the same as true belief. Good stuff today.
This has hit me harder than any other’s have. “It’s the trust when everything else around you says,”impossible”,and yet you dare to hope anyway.” When Doctors say there is no cure, I continue to hope, not in them,, but in my awesome God. His promises DO apply to me!! He has given me a great story to tell,and His glory is being shown through it all. I will keep lifting my eyes. Thank You Angie,xo
I’m reading this devotional as I am going through a process of applying to, interviewing for, and waiting to hear back about my dream job. As I don’t have children and nowhere rear this experience it’s hard to grabs the wants, needs, gifts in promises in ‘children’ but I keep thinking out this job I want so badly that I almost cry when I think about it. This devotional has been a blessing- it’s allowing me to breathe, be patient, trust in faith, and be thankful for what I already have and already have done. As I am praying without ceasing for this job (I’d love and appreciate if you’d please pray too) I am also praying to know The Lord has his time and a plan and will always take care of me. If I do not get this job it doesn’t mean I am a failure and to trust in faith there is a plan out there far better for me and more importantly far better for him and his kingdom.
I’m praying with you, Sam.
I'm right there with you Sam. I've been waiting and maturing my walk with faith for the past few months now in regards to finding a new job. If you asked me 4 months ago how I was doing I would have been filled with doubt, stress, and sadness but the Lord has been SO good to me that now I can't help but walk in the light. Today's devotional is even proof that I was silly to worry about what the Lord was already in control of. My own striken "silence" has been obediently growing in my faith for the right reasons and the mere fact of loving my Savior for all that he has truly done for me, even in times of me not fully appreciating it. He's provided me with blessings I could have never imagined happening to me in the meantime and I continue to thank him for that each day. My prayer for you today is that in all moments you are able to give thanks and that the Lord is able to open your eyes towards the ways in which he's provided you growth and prepared you for this new job that he has in store for you <3 my hope is that you continue to stand firmly in your faith and love in Jesus Christ and especially knowing how his life on the cross was our most precious gift, allow him to continue to be in control of your future. We all have our own dreams but what the Lord can create is even greater than we could ever imagine!!
Sam, praying for you in this time of anticipation of the unknown! Asking that He would make His way clear and provide peace! We love having you here!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
"Lift your eyes, beloved." It is so easy to get carried away by the cares and worries that come with this season. With all the things to do and preparations needing to be made. Praying that my actions are out of faith and not obligation. That I continually look up. Look to God. Look to Jesus. Because being focused on Him grows my faith. And trusting Him helps me to gracefully {and graciously} go through the more challenging parts of the season. God is good.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE today’s devotional! Thank you for pointing out Abraham’s faith. I was struggling to understand the difference in Zechariah’s response to Mary’s initial response. They both asked “how can this be”, but looking at Romans 4:19-21 clears that up.
It did for me too! I almost wonder why I never saw it before.
Wow, what a great message on a faith…a faith that I need and want to apply more zealously!
God silenced Zechariah because he struggled with believing in God’s promise. He was a godly man..but still had struggles, just as we do. And he was silenced. God wants us to share His Truth and promises. With Zechariah silenced, he couldn’t speak of doubt and disbelief. It reminds me of the old saying— “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” We must share the goodness of Jesus.
GM, ladies. This reminder of the depth and beauty of full fledged faith this morning was just what was needed. I have a feeling that I am not the only person who feels this way this morning too. With all of the end of the year deadlines quickly approaching, whether work or family related, these last few days of 2014 seem like q blur of worrying and rushing to get it all done before the clock runs out. Thankfully, God thinks enough of you and me to include this simple story of faith in His story to remind us of the power behind true faith and trust in Him. There are days when trust and faith seem too out of reach and quite frankly too good to be true for my battered and weak heart, but instead of letting us go on thinking that we are so much different from those in the Bible days God provides us with the story of Zachariah. I’m sure it’s not the story Zach wants told every year at the family gatherings let alone penned in a book for all to see, but God thought it was that important to show us that we are not the only ones who have had doubts. We’re not weird or less of a human being because the world has washed away some of the foundation behind our childlike faith. You can breathe ladies. I know I for one am grateful for this story. The best part is that it doesn’t end there. God doesn’t just silence Zach for his unbelief and refuse to let it go. Nope. He gives Zach another chance by restoring his voice once the baby is born. Wow. To hold that in for so long and then to finally be able to scream and yell and shout praises to God. What a story? Granted he did still have doubts, but God “helped his unbelief” in one of the most beautiful and dramatic ways. This morning I pray for our own doubts, worries, and other such things that seem to drag us away. I pray that God will help our unbelief and that our voices will not go unheard of how He has blessed us. Sing loudly ladies. For we have a voice and we have hope forevermore.
I especially want to lift you up, Kelly. I have been in those shoes of praying for what seems like years waiting on an answer and wondering if it’s ever going to come. All I can say is don’t give up. He hears you. He loves you. And He has a plan. I’m not sure what that plan is specifically for your life, but it is worth the wait, I promise.
Much love. Reneé
Thank you, Renee! This community has been such an encouragement! I won't get results until next week. My thoughts are quieted and my faith strengthened by these prayers!
I need help…. :( please do not judge. But I feel lost in faith right now… Every girl needs their dad right? And let me tell you I am a complete daddies girl haha :) I don’t know what I would do without him. My parents got a divorce in 2011, and my dad came out and said he was homosexual. Personally I believe love is love. (But this isn’t the point)
In 2012 I almost lost him due to severe pneumonia :( I was 16 at the time taking care of him by myself…scared not knowing whether one day would be his last…I couldn’t live without him…
But as I was at church yesterday, I felt my faith being tested. My pastor said during Easter service “you don’t go to hell because you sin, you go because you don’t accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior..and the other day he said Jesus is our Change.
My dad does. He believes in the Lord and trusts in him with his whole heart, but I feel like I’m a bad person for loving my dad for who he is… We are all sinners. No one person is perfect and that is okay. And I know how homosexuality is viewed in the church… But he is my dad and I love him..
I want to see him again. And I was just told to pray for him so that God should show him what his wrongs are.. He already knows what they are though and I know that the Lord can help him through… But I’ve never seen my dad so happy since the divorce he felt free and not like he was hiding…
:( I don’t know if I’m even making sense.. All I know is I feel lost and confused and I love my dad for who he is… He’s my dad you know?
Jesus loves everyone! Love your Dad as he is. Not all churches feel the way yours does. Jesus loves your Dad as he is today. Praying you feel peace and know that you are both very loved.
Praying for you Mariah. I cannot imagine how you feel but I know that prayer is powerful because when you pray for your dad to see full truth, God hears. I think it’s wonderful that you are loving your dad and I would encourage you to continue to love him well. Pray for him and maybe even share with him what your learning in church. The Gospel is living and active according to Hebrews, and the Holy Spirit can use the Words of God to penetrate your dad’s heart. I will be praying for you to have wisdom in how to pray and love your dad and for your dad to see the truth completely and turn from his sin. Trust that the Lord is there and He is listening to you Mariah! Thanks for sharing with us!
Hey Mariah. My sister has lied to and about our whole family and left us for good. My brother is into drugs and is divorcing his wife. It’s crushing the guilt I can let myself feel when I go down the road of believing it’s on me to change them. That’s the holy spirits job. It’s my job to love them and follow the spirit in my life. If He leads me to say or do something , I’ll obey but usually He leads to love which can be the harder thing in the face of all they have done and are doing to me and to our family. Your daddy is your daddy and let that love be strong and sweet as it is. I’ll be praying for you to listen to God’s leading in your life as your heavenly, perfect father (he’s the only one of us who is!). Stay in the word and stay close to His voice. Love!
Jesus loves everyone! Jesus reached out to society’s outcasts in his day and loved them and respected them just as we are supposed to do. God loves us all, and we all have our struggles in faith. Keep loving your dad and find a church that loves him too. Jesus is for EVERYBODY. Try looking for a ‘UnIted Church of Christ’ or Congregationalist church, they welcome all to the table of Christ. Praying for you!
Mariah, I pray you and your dad feel God's loving arms around you. We don't understand all the entanglements of our fallen world. But one thing we do know…love covers a multitude of sin. And love fulfills all the commandments. No one has greater love than God for His children. Holding you both in prayer.
Mariah,
I don’t pretend to have the perfect answer for you, but I know one who does!! Spend time talking to God about this and search His word for answers. I promise His word never fails. And don’t ever, ever, ever feel bad for loving your daddy right were he is!
Praying for you this morning!
Just love him sweetheart.xo
Oh Mariah, I am so sorry that you have to struggle with this. Life is so hard. Your pastor is right, we must all repent and love Jesus to be saved. And Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commands."
There is right and wrong, and Jesus wants us to live the way His father commands, but the beautiful thing is that His love isn't conditionally based on that. He loves us all. After all, he came to heal the sick and not the righteous! It is not wrong to love your dad. Jesus loves your dad. It is holy and good to love your dad. Never stop doing it.
This is a link to a website with some great articles about this topic. Also, there is a button on this website that will allow you to email a Christian who can talk one-one-one with you about this, and a lot of other stuff, confidentially. http://www.everystudent.com/menus/issues.html
Never stop reading God's word, and searching it for truth, Mariah!
I do believe all Scripture is truth and that the promises God made there are for me, but I don’t always act like it. The question comes then: does that mean that maybe I don’t REALLY believe? Lord, help,me walk boldly in the strength of Your promises…that I do not have a spirit of fear but of peace…that You are giving me the desires of my heart as I delight in You…that Christ’s power enables me to do all You ask of me…that You are using all things that come my way for my good…that You are right this minute completing the work You started in me, through even the hard things…that You are this minute and every minute present with me…that You don’t even remember the awful things I have confessed to You because they are covered by Christ’s blood…that I am beautiful in Your sight…that You love me when I know how unlovable I am…
Lord, I believe…help, oh please help my unbelief!
Thank you for calling attention to our obligation versus our true heart & obedience to The Lord. Certainly something for me to continue praying over. Blessed Monday, sisters!
Me too, KatSmith. Be blessed!
–AnnaLee
Wow. This is powerful, and totally speaks to me. Obedience isn’t the same as belief. Help me, Lord, to remember this, and have the audacity to believe His promises are for me.
"Obedience isn't the same as belief." Amen to that! Jesus, get rid of all the religious obedience I've become comfortable in and renew me with an audacious, rock solid faith in You, Lord Jesus! May you have all the glory! Amen!
–AnnaLee
I needed to hear this today. Thank you!
Love these beautiful words today. I've endured in my life, as we all have, and I've had so many people ask over the years, how I could still believe, what kept me going and would I trade it all……. It's easy for me to answer … God is good, my life is for His glory, not mine. It's been painful, soooooo painful, but to not have the pain means to not have the miracles with it and God has never been shy about performing out and out miracles in my life.
"The audacity to believe" …….. It reminds me sort of my son. We are honest with our kiddos about Santa, for a variety of reasons, one being that we don't want them to grow in belief of something they can not see to find it unreal later and perhaps begin to question Christ's existence. That said, our son loves the stories of Santa. He insists he IS real and that we are wrong, no amount of gentile conversation has swayed him. He has the audacity to believe in Santa, my prayer is that that audaciousness will carry over into his belief of God and God's promises for him, that his elation will play out in his conversations with others over a very real and very true Savior! ~ B
I have a daughter who refuses to NOT believe, too!!! It baffles me that she believes when Santa has never been a part of our Christmas celebration. We share the story of Saint Nicholas, explain our modern-day traditions. Still, she believes he is in the North Pole preparing for Christmas Day. She is a believer in the impossible. She believes whole-heartedly that she will win every contests she enters. She believes good will always win. She believes the best of people. We are rolling with it. We speak the truth gently and, like you, encourage her believing heart trusting that God will redeem it for His glory.
Ha! What a cutie! I'm so curious to see where two who have such hope innately will find themselves in this world. I imagine them to be such lights here. Glad we're not alone in our wonder of their belief! ~ B
Father, I pray that I would not waiver through unbelief regarding Your promises! I pray I would instead grow stronger in my faith and give You all the glory! I pray I would stand fully persuaded that You have the power to do what You have promised!
Praying with you, sister! Love to you today!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Thank you for your timely words of encouragement to believe, Angie! I have one of "those" doctor appointments today. The kind where you wait with your breath stuck in your chest for the lab results to come back. I have prayed about it for the last 3 months, but with the doubt of Zechariah in my heart. Jesus says, "If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes." I respond like the father in Mark 9. "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
Praying for you! Standing In the gap.
Thank you, Brandi!
Prayers for you today Kelly! Prayers that His name would be glorified and your soul would be comforted! May God bless you, friend.
Thank you, Ashley!
Praying, Kelly!
Praying for you, Kelly.
Thank you, Stacie!
Praying for you right now, Kelly! ❤️
Thank you!
Praying for you right now, Kelly. That whatever the outcome of these results would be, you'd rest under the shadow of Christ's wings and would find strength in His loving comfort. Love you, sister! You are being surrounded in prayer this very moment!
–AnnaLee
Praying. Praying. I have been through many of those appointments in the last year an a half. Much grace and peace to you, sister
Thank you, Veronica!
Wow…..Amazing scripture today, this is so true to the core. God wants us to stop giving him some of our trust, but ALL of our trust. After all, God says in his word, he will finish the good work he started within us and through us. I love how God's word can be a reassurance in times od doubt and insecurity in a situation.
Yes! Thank you for this reminder and encouragement today.
I love that too, Latesia! It's amazing how His Word can continue to teach us over and over again:) We love having you here!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
While doubt is a typical human response, we have a Savior who is anything but typical. He wants to raise our eyes above the typical human plane and see life from His heavenly vantage point, growing our faith and trust in Him. He is ever faithful and trustworthy. Oh, to live that out.
Beautiful thoughts, Dianne. Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us today!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
I know I’ve had experience with doubting God’s promises. Everything just seems too good, and we are looking for the catch. There must be SOMETHING we have to do to earn this guarantee. But, there is nothing we can do. It all falls to God, and to his glory, that we have been given these gifts. Believing what God says is only possible because he chooses us to believe.
"Believing what God says is only possible because he chooses us to believe."
Wow. Yes. We can't even believe without the Holy Spirit, by God's choosing, being in us and testifying to the belief's truth. Beautiful. Thank you for this!
–AnnaLee