It is perhaps fitting that the Gospel of Luke, focused on Jesus as the Son of Man, both begins and ends with sons of man who doubted the Lord. (We’ll get to Luke 24 later.)

Luke 1 opens with Zacharias, a priest who faithfully served God. He and his wife Elizabeth are called righteous and blameless (Lk 1:6). 

Despite their long faithfulness, they had no child. Elizabeth was barren, and both were now well advanced in years (Lk 1:7). By every human measure, childbirth was impossible. 

But God is Lord over the impossible. Their persistent prayers were now being answered. God even sent an angel to personally deliver the news. 

We often imagine that if God granted us a miracle, belief would come easily.

But though an angel appeared to him and spoke to him, Zacharias could not grasp that God had answered his prayer (Lk 1:18).

His doubt reveals something familiar: though he prayed, hope had already slipped from his hands. 

Zacharias held a rare privilege. As a priest, he served where few could enter. Only Levites aged 25 to 50 could serve (Num 8:24-25); on this day, he had the opportunity to burn incense before the Lord. The crowd stood outside, praying (Lk 1:10).

Yet even this sacred role and his nearness to holy things could not shield him from doubt. 

We might measure faith by outward service: church attendance, hours preparing Bible studies, times our names appear on church rosters.

But Zacharias’ story reminds us: even faithful servants can falter, especially when God’s plans stretch beyond “common sense”. 

In contrast, Mary—who lacked Zacharias’ temple privilege—welcomed the angel’s message of virgin birth with humble trust. She responds, “Let it be to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38)

Because of his doubt, Zacharias became unable to speak until his son was born, and he named him John. What seemed like punishment became a gentle tutor. Each silent day reminded him of his encounter with God, shaping and strengthening his faith. 

One chapter with two impossible births. In John’s, Gabriel spoke to the father; in Jesus’, he spoke to the mother. The Bible is silent on why this difference, but perhaps Zacharias needed the long quiet for faith to grow. 

Strikingly, Zacharias’ moment of doubt did not disqualify him. God still chose them to raise the prophet who would prepare the way for Jesus. Eventually, God filled Zacharias with the Holy Spirit, allowing him to prophesy of John and Jesus’ God-given missions (Lk 1:67-79).

Even in our doubts, God is kind. He strengthens. Just as He used his faithful yet doubting servant, He can still use us—building our faith step by step, helping us lean less and less on our own understanding. 

Reflection Questions:

• Do you have any prayers that you doubt God will answer? What makes you doubt?

• How has God previously strengthened your faith when you doubted Him?