Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.’ (Luke 1:18 NLT)

Have you ever prayed for something, but it took a long time for God to answer it? Then again, have you ever prayed for something, and the answer came so quickly that it almost scared you? You didn’t believe that your prayer could be answered that quickly. That is why we need to pray about things.

God paid attention to the prayers of godly Zechariah and Elizabeth. And He was about to answer them.

The Bible says, “You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it” (James 4:2 NLT). There might be a situation in your life right now that prayer could change. Maybe it’s a financial crisis, a hurting marriage, a prodigal child, or a medical condition. Have you prayed about it? God may not answer your prayer immediately. But sometimes He will.

In Acts 12 we find a story about answered prayer. King Herod had beheaded the apostle James. And then he arrested Peter. But the Bible tells us that “while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him” (verse 5 NLT).

God immediately answered their prayers and sent an angel into the prison who opened the doors so Peter could walk out. The Peter went to where the believers were holding a prayer meeting, presumably asking God for his deliverance. Peter knocked at the door, and a servant named Rhoda answered. When she saw that it was Peter, she went back and told the group that Peter was at the door.

Essentially they said, “Don’t bother us. We’re praying for Peter.” But Peter kept knocking, and they finally let him in. Poor Peter. God could deliver him from prison, but Peter couldn’t get into a prayer meeting.

Like Peter’s friends, Zechariah struggled with doubt when the angel Gabriel appeared to him and said he and his wife would have a son named John. Zechariah asked, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years” (Luke 1:18 NLT).

So, Gabriel told him, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time” (verses 19–20 NLT).

Zechariah could have rejoiced, but he questioned instead. Let’s not be too hard on Zechariah. After all, haven’t we done the same thing? How many of us have entertained doubt? Have we ever doubted God’s Word? Doubt is not always a sign that we are wrong; it is actually a sign that we are thinking. And sometimes we have to go through the foyer of doubt before we can enter the sanctuary of certainty.

We need to believe our beliefs and doubt our doubts. We should believe what God says to us and act in faith, not feeling.

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