When Doubt Paves the Way for Hope

Inside: Two people in the Christmas story questioned the angel who visited them. One was chastised; the other was not. Have you ever wondered why? ~

When I hear the Christmas story, I always wonder. Two people in the narrative questioned the angel who visited them. One was chastised; the other was not. Why?

Both were told impossible things. Both had reason to doubt. Their responses to the news they received even seem similar, at least on the surface:

“ ‘How can I know this?’ Zechariah asked the angel. ‘For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.’ ” (Luke 1:18)

^“Mary asked the angel, ‘How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?’ ” (Luke 1:34)

Why, then, was Zechariah struck mute until his “well-along-in-years” wife Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist, while the virgin Mary received a gentle explanation about how she would bear God’s Son?

I’ve long been puzzled by this. Aside from the standard “God knew their hearts,” I’ve never been able to figure it out. And maybe that answer is enough.

Another Perspective

This year, though, I thought of something else. Zechariah was an old man. Luke 1:6 describes both him and his wife as “righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.”

Mary was a teenager, perhaps 15 or 16 years old. When she discovered she was pregnant, she went to stay with her cousin Elizabeth. Maybe that was the best place her parents could think of to get her out of sight—for her sake, or perhaps for theirs.

Either way, she was a teenager. She was God-fearing and probably mature for her years, but she was still young and inexperienced. (I know our modern society is completely different from the Jewish culture of Mary’s day, but how would the 15-year-olds you know have responded in her situation?)

Zechariah, on the other hand, had an entire lifetime of trusting, praying, following and seeking after God under his belt. Could it be he lost his voice because he should have known better than to doubt?

Let’s Frame it This Way

When my girls are struggling, I try to help them. But I also try to remember they are much younger than me, with decades of growth opportunities ahead of them.

I have plenty of growing to do too. But I also have 54 years of working through hard situations, learning to wait, developing patience, watching God answer prayer.

It’s all ongoing, believe me. Even so, I’m further down the path than they are, and I cannot expect them to share or understand my perspective in every situation. My daughters will learn as they grow older, just as I have done and continue to do.

A Plausible Explanation

Maybe this explains why the angel responded so differently to Zechariah and Mary. Zechariah’s age, righteous life and understanding of scripture may have warranted the expectation of immediate acceptance and obedience, while Mary’s youthful innocence required that she receive more detailed information.

This could be discouraging for those of us who are no longer teenagers or young adults. Higher standards are harder to live up to and present more opportunities for failure, after all.

And yet, Zechariah’s story didn’t end in doubt. And maybe that simple fact could bring us comfort today.

Yes, he had to deal with the consequences of his unbelief, but God was gracious to him. Despite his initial reaction, the elderly father-to-be eventually accepted his situation. And in the end, he demonstrated the strength of his faith by naming his child John, just as the angel had instructed him to do.

Hope in Redemption

This chapter of Zechariah’s story is recorded in scripture from start to finish. So instead of fixating on his doubt, let’s find hope in his redemption.

No matter how old we are, it’s never too late to grow, to obey God, to set an example of faithfulness for those who are coming along behind us.

This Christmas season, I hope that encourages your heart as much as it does mine.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.