Wavering

Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." 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. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time." (Luke 1:18-20 NIV)

Zechariah was a priest.  Drawing near to God was a regular occurrence for him.  Encountering an angel of God, however, probably wasn't.  Even though God sent him a special messenger, Zechariah began wavering at the message.  "How can this be?"  This created problems for Zechariah.

When God puts a plan in action, there are only two options for us.  We can participate willingly or participate by fighting God.  When we fight God, we will lose and God's plan will still come to fruition.  When we participate willingly, God's plan still comes to pass but we get to enjoy the process much more.  Zechariah didn't participate willingly.

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. (Luke 1:21-22 NIV)

We can't fault Zechariah.  Many of us would have done the same thing.  It's a bit overwhelming to have an angel of the Lord show up and give you a direct message from God.  Before we look down on Zechariah for wavering, perhaps we should humbly remember the times we've tried to fight God, too.  Rather than bashing him, we can relate to him.  There are times we are dragged through God's plan kicking and screaming.

When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people." (Luke 1:23-25 NIV)

Elizabeth, however, responded to God's plan immediately.  Maybe that was because she wanted a child her whole life and she was finally getting a "yes" answer to her prayers.  Perhaps, though, she was just that open to God leading her.  Either way, she did not waiver.  She willingly followed God's plan.  As a result, we were all blessed with their child: John the Baptist.

How about you?  Do you waver when God calls you to do a part of His plan?  Do you participate willingly?  Have you seen the blessings that come from walking together with God?