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My dad used to say, “God said it. I believe it. That settles it.”

I’m sure you’ve heard that before, and it’s true–if  God has spoken, the matter should be settled in our hearts, shouldn’t it?

But if we’re honest, it isn’t always that simple.

Sometimes obedience comes with a cost.
Sometimes it leads us straight out of our comfort zone.
Sometimes it asks us to trust God in ways that stretch us thin.

And even when we know the message is clear… we question.
We question our ability.
We question God’s ability.
And sometimes, we even question whether God will truly come through for us.

We’re not the first ones to struggle here.
This has been the human response to God’s calling for generations.

When Moses was called to lead Israel out of Egypt, he questioned whether he was the right man for the job (Exodus 3–4).
When the spies entered Canaan—a land God had already promised to them—they questioned whether they could take hold of it (Numbers 13).
Time after time, God spoke with clarity, and His people responded with hesitation.

Fast forward to the New Testament, and not much has changed.

Zechariah was a righteous man—faithful, steady, and devoted (Luke 1:6). He wasn’t careless with his walk. He wasn’t running from God. He was serving in the temple when the angel Gabriel appeared and delivered the unthinkable news:
Your prayer has been heard. Your wife will bear you a son.

But instead of rejoicing, Zechariah froze in fear and doubt. “How can I be sure of this?” he asked.

He wasn’t questioning God’s existence—he was questioning whether God could still move in his story.
Whether he was still capable of receiving a miracle at his age.
Whether the promise he once prayed for was still even possible.

Friend, haven’t we all stood in that same place?

We believe God can do anything…
but we’re not always convinced He’ll do it for us.

We trust His power…
but we get tangled up in the details of timing, limitations, and impossibilities.

And yet—here is the beauty of God’s faithful love:

Zechariah’s doubt did not cancel God’s promise.
His hesitation did not stop God’s plan.
His weakness did not disqualify him from receiving what God had ordained.

God carried out His promise anyway.
Not because Zechariah was strong, but because God’s love was faithful.

And that’s what I want you to hear today:

Your faith doesn’t have to be flawless for God to move in your life.
Your uncertainty doesn’t undo His ability.
Your questions don’t scare Him away.

He knows we’re dust. He knows we’re weak. He knows fear can creep in even when we’re trying our best to trust Him.
And still—He stays.
He works.
He fulfills what He has spoken.

So if you’re feeling discouraged because your faith doesn’t feel “strong enough,” let this anchor your heart:

God’s faithfulness is not held together by your strength.
It’s held together by His character.

And friend, His character never changes.

God did exactly what He promised for Zechariah and Elizabeth—right on time. And He will be faithful in your story too, even if your steps feel shaky along the way.

This is the beauty of Christmas.
This is the gift.

Before you go, I’d love to invite you back on Monday as we begin Week 2 of our Advent journey. We’ll be talking about the sacrificial love of God—the kind of love that gives, serves, and pours itself out for the sake of others. It’s a powerful theme, and I can’t wait to walk through it with you.

And if you’d like to share what God is teaching you, come join the conversation in our Facebook group. We’d love to hear your thoughts and grow together.

This Week’s Printable

Here is this week’s printable. Click the image to view and print a higher resolution.