“How Can I be sure…”
Is my need for assurance okay?
I ask myself the above question often because I do not want my need to be assured that I am on the right track to be a lack of faith. I am afraid, however, that my attempts to be righteous mask my need to be in control and paralyze me from stepping forward in faith.
Complacency also weakens one’s faith and can cause us to question. When one has been seeking after God most of their life, grew up attending church, and genuinely desired to love God more than self, the elusive temptation of complacency is real. Unknowingly, in our endeavors to follow God with our whole self, we can become satisfied with how things are rather than constantly being open to the possibilities with God on how things could be.
Control or complacency: I wonder if either played a role in the first hidden treasure of the Christmas story in Zechariah’s need for assurance.
The Bible tells us that the priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth “were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly” (Luke 1:6, NIV). They were a godly older couple, trying to love God and do all the right things their entire lives, but despite their godliness, they were barren. (Luke 1:7) They had asked God for children, but time had rolled past their childbearing years, moving them to accept that “no” was the answer to their prayers.
One day at the temple, Zechariah was chosen as the priest to enter the sanctuary and make the incense offering. He would have been prepared to intercede on behalf of the people as he positioned himself in front of the incense altar. Zechariah would have been praying, smelling the air filled with scent, and watching the incense smoke rise to the heavens, symbolizing the prayers of the people. Suddenly, a heavenly being appeared to the right of the incense altar.
Startled out of his prayerful state, Zechariah became “terrified and overwhelmed with fear” (Luke 1: 12). Shaken to his core, he now had to pull it together to hear and attempt to receive the words from the angel.
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. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” (Luke 1:13-17, NRSVUE).
I can imagine Zechariah standing stunned, trying his best not to be afraid, attempting to understand all the particulates around the birth of his son, who – side note – was to be the forerunner of the long-expected Messiah. Then, Zechariah gets tripped up on a detail. He and Elizabeth are too old to have children. “Did the angel say we were going to have a baby? I need clarification and confirmation.”
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen?” (Luke 1:18, NRSVUE)
Was it wrong for Zechariah to ask for assurance?
Our first look at the angel’s response could lead us to believe Zechariah had done something wrong in his need for a guarantee. “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! 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” (Luke 1: 19-20, NRSVUE).
The Lord looks at our hearts. Zechariah’s heart had doubts. The angel reiterated this by stating, “Since you didn’t believe what I said.” Zechariah’s heart revealed a lack of faith rather than a need to understand how things would transpire and gain clarity on his role in God’s plan.
Faith is about the unseen sprinkled with impossibilities. The very nature of faith embodies a sense of being unsettled, uncomfortable, and uncertain of how things will unfold.
What is the motive fueling our need for assurance?
Our need for assurance must walk hand in hand with faith. Assurance can help us know we are on the right track and have not veered off God’s plan, accompanied by steps moving forward regardless of whether we have received the assurance for which we have asked. While we wait for the assurance and, at the same time, move forward in faith, we need to remember God is an unhurried God. He considers everything, working all things together on behalf of those who believe. (Romans 8:28)
God met Zechariah where he was, gave him the sign he asked for, and then used the sign to also speak to everyone else. Zechariah’s inability to speak confirmed that he had an experience with Jehovah God, and everyone, not just Zechariah and Elizabeth, was drawn to pause and consider what God might be up to.
Zechariah’s experience that day at the incense altar representing the cries of God’s people speaks to our cries for assurance today. The Christmas story reflects God’s assurance; He is faithful to keep His promises and will be faithful to come through for us.
I pray that the assurance of Christ blankets you this season. That whatever areas you feel you need assurance will melt away like snow in spring. May you be assured that God loves you, sees you, and will always be there for you. In Jesus’ name, so be it.
Meditate: Christ is my assurance.
Reflect: Have you ever thought your need for assurance could be a lack of faith? Are you willing to move forward if you do not have all the answers? How do you feel about Zechariah’s consequence? What do you need to believe God for in this season?
Deeper: Luke 1:5-25; Psalm 20:1-5; 1 John 5:1-13
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(Bible References: NRSVUE – New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, NIV – New International Version)
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