When our faith is stretched it is both exciting and scary at the same time. Have you let the Lord stretch your faith? How did that effect you? How did that change your faith life? I remember a Russian mission trip that stretched my dependance on God. I had to learn to depend on God in a greater way than ever before.
Zechariah’s Faith was Stretched when He Encountered an Angel
Zechariah was going about his priestly duties in the temple and had no idea the Lord was going to stretch his faith. Luke 1:13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John…
18 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.”
19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 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.” [1]
Luke 1:6 tells us that Zechariah was righteous in God’s eyes, yet he still struggled when the angel told him he would have a son in his old age. I believe if we are honest, we all struggle when God takes us out of our comfort zone.
We Need to Trust God When Our Faith is Stretched
From Zechariah’s human perspective, his doubts were understandable—but with God, anything is possible. Although Zechariah and Elizabeth were past the age of childbearing, God gave them a child. It is easy to doubt or misunderstand what God wants to do in our lives. Even God’s people sometimes make the mistake of trusting their intellect or experience rather than God. When tempted to think that one of God’s promises is impossible, remember His work throughout history. God’s power is not confined by narrow perspective or bound by human limitations. Trust him completely.[2]
The Stretching of My Faith Helps It Mature
When I do new things the Lord has for me, it helps me mature in my faith. As we are stretched, we can look back and see how the Lord worked. When God presents us with another opportunity, we can be confident the Lord will be with us and guide us. We also learn that when we are stretched in the faith we must grow in our dependence in God. Throughout our lives the Lord is continually calling us in to deeper water to fulfill the plans He has for us.
To hear what happens when our faith is stretched, listen here:
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Lk 1:13, 18–20). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., Taylor, L. C., & Osborne, G. R. (1997). Luke (p. 15). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.