December 11 — Luke 1:18–25

“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple. When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.

After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared, “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
— Luke 1:18–25


Zechariah’s honest question—“How can I be sure?”—is one that lives in every human heart. When God promises something beyond our imagination, when His timing stretches far beyond what we expected, doubt often rises alongside the longing. Zechariah was righteous and faithful, but he was also human. His question came from years of disappointment and from a lifetime of seeing the ordinary limits of age and circumstance. Advent reminds us that God’s promises are not dependent on our strength or our understanding. His purposes unfold even through our uncertainty. What matters is not the perfection of our faith, but the faithfulness of the God who speaks.

Gabriel’s response reveals something important: God’s word is certain, even when we struggle to embrace it. Zechariah’s temporary silence was not punishment but preparation. In the quiet months ahead, he would witness God’s promise taking shape—growing in Elizabeth’s womb, growing in his understanding, growing in his faith. Silence has a way of making space for transformation. Advent itself is a season of holy quiet, a time to lean into God’s presence and allow His word to form something new within us, even when we do not yet see the full picture.

Elizabeth’s response is filled with gratitude and humility. Where Zechariah struggled to believe, she receives the gift with quiet joy: “The Lord has done this for me.” Her delight reminds us that God sees the deeply personal pains we carry and that His grace meets us not only in cosmic events but in intimate, human tenderness. Advent brings both the grand story of salvation and the small mercies that heal individual hearts.

As you reflect on this passage, consider these questions: Where do you find yourself asking, “How can this be?” in your walk with God? What promises of God feel difficult to trust right now? How might God be inviting you into a season of quiet—perhaps to listen more deeply, to let Him reshape your expectations, or to let hope grow slowly within you? And where, like Elizabeth, can you recognize and celebrate the personal kindness of God in your life?

For today’s practice, spend a few minutes in intentional silence. Set aside your phone, step away from noise, and let the quiet become a place of openness before God. Pray gently, “Lord, teach me to trust Your word.” If helpful, write down one area where you desire deeper faith and one place where you see God’s tender favor at work. Let this reflection accompany you through the day.


Loving Father, 

Help me trust Your promises even when they stretch beyond what I can understand. Quiet my heart so that I may hear Your voice and recognize Your presence. Like Elizabeth, teach me to rejoice in Your personal kindness, and like Zechariah, shape me through moments of stillness.

In the strong name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

-

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