Just believe me, friend...

"Now listen: You will be mute and unable to speak... because you did not believe my words." (Luke 1:20 NLT) 

When I recently started reading the Gospel of Luke from the beginning, I got stuck with this verse that we have heard so many times. The context of: “hear,” i.e.: “Listen to me now,” and “you will be mute,” suddenly became very real to me.

We don't know how many times Zechariah must have wept before God. How many times he must have begged God to give them a child. The Bible says: "But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old." (Luke 1:7 NIV)

Suddenly, an angel stood before Zechariah and said: "Your prayer has been answered." (Luke 1:13 NLT)  

Zechariah couldn’t think of anything better than to ask for proof of this, and to list why this couldn’t be possible: his wife was old and so was he. Zechariah asked for evidence to believe what the angel said. (see Luke 1:18-19 NLT) 

Oh, Zechariah. Can't you just be happy? Believe it's gonna happen like an angel said right to your face? 

An angel! I’ve never experienced an angel at my door who said to me: "Your prayer has been answered!"

How would you react if an angel met you like this? Come on, honestly, friend? Maybe you'd even pull out your phone and say, "Excuse me, but could you maybe repeat that? Then I'll quickly do a story for Instagram. Nobody will believe me!" Or at least a little selfie?...

We want proof.

friend...By faith, we can believe, even without proof, because we believe in God and the truth of His Word.

Maybe that's why God had to make Zechariah mute. Maybe he needed to learn to listen to God and to trust Him. Even without evidence. Complete silence. Complete trust.

You don't need proof, because God is trustworthy!

Are you going to trust Him completely and faithfully, friend?

You are a miracle!