God's Timing

"But the angel said, 'I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won't believe me, you'll be unable to say a word until the day of your son's birth. Every word I've spoken to you will come true on time - God's time.'" -Luke 1:20

In the Bible, Zachariah was a priest who lived during the reign of King Herod.  He and his wife Elizabeth were God-fearing people, who the Bible says, “lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God.”  (Luke 1:6)

Zachariah and his wife had always wanted children, but they couldn’t conceive.  At this time, they were getting “quite old.” (v. 7)

One day, Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties at the temple, on his assigned schedule.  It was his turn to enter the sanctuary and burn incense.  While he was there, something incredible happened: an angel appeared to Him and told him he and his wife would have a son. 

At first, Zachariah didn’t believe him. "Do you expect me to believe this?” he said. “I'm an old man and my wife is an old woman."  The angel again confirmed what he was saying, made Zachariah mute, and said, “Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time – God’s time.”(v. 20)

Sometimes in life we can doubt God’s working in our lives.  We may feel we are too young, too old, too ill equipped or too unholy for God to use us.  This is when God shows us we are to “mute our feelings” so we don’t speak doubt and death over His plan for us.  Our part is trusting God, keeping His ways, and living with a “clear conscience” as Zachariah and his wife did.  We can’t make God’s will happen in our own strength.

Are you able to trust God’s timing?