Doubt

Zachariah responds to angel news, honest:

“Do you expect me to believe this?” Luke 1:18 Message.

          Doesn’t this get to the heart of the matter?

          God says it.

          And we don’t believe it.

          Doubt has ripened like apples upon the tree.

          First the bud of disappointment.

          Then the fruit of hurt is born.

          This orb of discontent grows with each passing hope, deferred.

          Until the crushing defeat ripens into full grown doubt.

          Whose spine straightens into simmering anger upon hearing such words as,  “That’s what I said.”

          And the heart reels from flurried memory.

          Cringing.

          Unbelieving.

          Even when words are spoken by Himself, Truth-Bearer, Full of Truth.

          How can eyes crusted with tears, see?

          How can heart, bruised and shriveled, pleas unanswered, believe?

          How can barren friend?

          How can long years of pain-wracked back?

          How can empty bed?

          How can marriage torn?

          How can I?

          Believe?

          The angel responds to such: “I stand in the presence of God.” (verse 19)

          That’s it.

          The layers of hurt, disappointment, discontent are peeled back by His nearness.

          This fruit of doubt is consumed by His presence.

          Just as Zachariah’s mouth was closed (verse 20), we are silenced by such knowledge.

          God with us.