When Faith Struggles in the Waiting
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | December 18 2025 | Luke 1:18-20
KEY VERSE: “Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man…’ The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.’” (Luke 1:18-19, NIV)
MESSAGE:
In our last devotion, “Preparing Hearts for the Lord,” we saw how God would use John the Baptist to turn hearts back to Him and prepare a people ready for Jesus Christ. But as God unfolds His plan, we also see that even the faithful sometimes struggle to believe what God is doing. Today’s passage shows us that even righteous, faithful people may wrestle with doubt, and yet God continues His work with grace and firmness.
The key lessons from today’s passage are:
God Understands When Faith Feels Difficult: Zechariah, a faithful priest, is confronted with a divine message beyond anything he imagined. Zechariah’s question, “How can I be sure of this?” (Verse 18) is not curiosity; it is doubt. Standing before an angel, he still struggles to accept God’s promise. His age and Elizabeth's barrenness overshadow his memory of God’s power. Yet God does not abandon us in those moments - He works through them to strengthen our trust and deepen our obedience.
God’s Word Remains Sure Even When We Struggle to Believe: Gabriel’s response: “I am Gabriel… I stand in the presence of God…” (Verse 19), reveals two things: 1. God’s promise is fully authoritative and 2. Unbelief in God’s presence is serious. Gabriel’s identity underscores the weight of the message: this is God’s word, not a dream or an imagination. Gabriel emphasises that the promise originates from the very presence of God.
God Uses Discipline to Build Deeper Trust: “You will be silent… until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words.” (Verse 20). The silence is both judgment and mercy. Judgment, because unbelief has consequences. Mercy, because the promise will still be fulfilled. God disciplines, but He does not discard His servants. Zechariah’s silence was not God’s rejection - it was a season of holy reflection. Sometimes God slows us down so our hearts can catch up to His purposes.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Where are you struggling to trust God right now? Advent teaches us that when our faith wavers, God remains steady. Our unbelief does not weaken God’s power. He remains faithful even when we falter. Advent invites us to quiet our fears, doubts, and noise so we can truly hear God.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for Your patience when my faith wavers. Teach me to trust Your Word above my doubts, fears, and limitations. Use every season of silence to deepen my faith and prepare my heart to receive Your promises with confidence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING
DAILY word study: SURE The word translated “sure” comes from the Greek verb ginōskō, which means “to know by experience” or “to be certain through evidence.” In this context, it indicates a preference for confirmation based on visible evidence rather than trust.
Zechariah did not doubt God’s ability outright; he doubted how God’s promise could be realised in his circumstances. By seeking to be “sure,” he placed human reasoning alongside divine revelation. Faith was challenged when certainty became a prerequisite for obedience.
Reflect on this:
True faith does not begin with certainty; it grows through trust. When God speaks, will you wait to be sure, or will you choose to believe His word above what you can explain?
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