3 Day Devotional: When God Silences You, People of Advent Series - Day 3

Scripture — Luke 1:20; 63–64 (NIV)
20 “And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

Reflection
Zechariah’s silence was not wasted—it was transformative. For months he lived unable to speak, yet fully surrounded by the unfolding promise of God. He watched Elizabeth carry a miracle. He saw God’s faithfulness unfold day by day. Silence became the place where unbelief was confronted, healed, and reshaped into trust. When Zechariah wrote, “His name is John,” he demonstrated that faith had grown where doubt once lived. His voice returned only when his heart aligned with God’s word, and the first sound out of his mouth was praise. God confronts unbelief not to condemn us but to strengthen us. Silence becomes the soil where deeper faith forms.

Prayer
Lord, reveal and heal the unbelief that hides in me. Strengthen my faith so that when my voice returns, it returns in praise. Amen.

Application
Write out this sentence and complete it: “God, I choose to believe that You will_____________” Keep it in front of you today.