As written about in my previous blog post, living by faith has a great deal to do with hearing the voice of God for our situation. However it is not just about ‘hearing’ from God, it matters how we respond to what he has said – how do we receive his words? It really is our choice how we react when he speaks to us.

The Lord desires us to respond with faith, believing him completely at his word. However many of us will struggle with fear and doubt, the “What ifs?” filling our minds… In Luke chapter 1, Mary and Zechariah both hear from God and respond in completely different ways. They show us just how different our reactions and attitude can be.

Firstly, Zechariah is visited by an angel of the Lord (Luke 1:11), who declares that his barren wife, Elizabeth, will have a son named John. Zechariah, however, is not overjoyed and thankful at this news, instead he says, but how can I be sure of this? He goes on to point out the problems in the natural realm that are obstacles to this word being fulfilled.

Zechariah has no hope or positive expectations, only doubts. In some ways I think he actually comes across slightly proud and entitled, a visiting angel with a word from the Lord isn’t enough, he wants some other kind of guarantee or proof that the word will actually come to pass! However pride is often the result of a hard heart and is it the years of waiting and hoping for a child that has hardened his heart? After all, hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12). He chooses to doubt and fear, demanding further assurances, instead of being willing to risk his heart in hope and faith again.

In Luke 1:6, Zechariah was declared righteous in the sight of God, yet although on the outside his actions were godly and faithful, the condition of his heart appears to have grown weary. His heart is not ready for the promise of God. The faithlessness within him is revealed and the angel rebukes and silences him in Luke 1:20.

The angel silences Zechariah because he didn’t believe the angels words. I believe this really shows the power of our own words, God clearly didn’t want Zechariah messing up his plans by speaking out his fear and doubts – he is forced to keep his unbelief to himself! Our words really have the power to create and to change our environment. If God has spoken the truth or a promise into a situation and you continually speak the opposite in unbelief, you are working against the promise of God coming to pass in your own life. It is better to be silent, than to speak out your unbelief over and over again.

Later, from Luke 1:26, Mary is also visited by an angel but her response is a stark contrast to the one we have just seen. She is brought similar news, in that she will bear a son, however, her situation is far more impossible than Zechariah’s! Previously in the Bible, we see God providing several old, barren couples with miracle children – this is not something that is too difficult for God! 

In spite of that, Zechariah’s response seems to suggest he thinks a miracle for his barrenness is beyond God’s ability, which again, is pride. To think that your situation is too difficult for God is pride! He is the ever-lasting God and your life is a blade of grass in comparison. Do not get sucked into thinking that doubt and fear is humility, I assure you, it is not.

When Mary receives the most unusual, unimaginable news, that she will give birth to the Son of the Most High – she also asks a question in response, how will this be since I am a virgin? However Mary is not questioning the ability of the Lord like Zechariah, just simply wondering how this will come to pass as she has not lain with a man. The angel announces to her something quite extraordinary, that she will be impregnated by the power of the Holy Spirit and that Her child will be the son of God. 

Nothing like this has ever been heard of before in the Bible! Yet Mary does not doubt the Lord’s ability, ask for extra proof and assurances or question God’s choice of herself for this task, she just responds humbly and says, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled”. She does not question the impossibility, the improbability, the absolute craziness of what she has just heard, she simply submits and believes the Lord at his word. That is true humility.

In contrast to the enforced ‘silence’ of Zechariah, in verse 46, Mary releases a song of praise to God, exalting him and magnifying him. The faithless remain silent, yet the faithful are full of praises to the Lord. If you truly believe God is able, it will be coming out of your mouth! You won’t be able to stop extolling the Lord as part of your faith because every time you look at him and think about who he is, you are so sure he is more than able to fulfil every word that he has spoken. 

After looking at these two contrasting responses to the word of the Lord, where would you put yourself on a scale of where your heart and faith are at? Are you struggling to believe like Zechariah, being weighed down by the disappointment of the past which has actually turned into ‘self-protective’ fear and pride? Or are you able to respond like Mary, humbly able to believe and praise God in faith for what is to come? Most of us are probably somewhere in-between. 

Don’t feel condemnation if you are struggling like Zechariah. It’s worth noting Zechariah still received his promise! The Lord is kind and merciful when we are weak, but take this opportunity to deal with some of the disappointments in your heart so you can truly respond in faith to every word he speaks to you. God has good things for you! Take a risk and believe it today so that you can fully receive the extraordinary blessings he has for you.