Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Learning to shut my mouth…

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:6-8

The story of John the Baptist’s angelic birth announcement carries with it a great lesson on faith—or, more accurately—the lack thereof. Gabriel the angel appeared to John’s father, Zacharias the priest, telling him the joyous news that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son who would be great in the sight of the Lord. He was to prepare the way for Messiah and be filled with the spirit and power of Elijah. This news must have made old Zach jump with joy, right? On the contrary, Zacharias’s response was one of doubt and bewilderment. I can’t say that I blame him. You see, he and his wife were well past their child-bearing era, and Zacharias felt it necessary to remind Gabriel of this fact. I like to imagine Gabriel standing there wide-eyed in awe at the doubt spewing forth from the lips of this priestly man of God and reminding him… “I am Gabriel. You know, the guy who appeared to Daniel the prophet? I literally stand in the presence of God. He personally sent me to tell you about this. And you’re seriously worried about being old right now?” That’s my own spin on it anyway. 

Gabriel then tells him that because of his doubt, Zacharias would not be able to speak until the fulfillment of John’s birth. I have heard it preached that the reason God shut his mouth was so he wouldn’t destroy this promise through speaking words of unbelief. Whether or not this was the exact reason, James seems to agree that we can in fact inhibit the answers to our prayers through doubt: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6-8). 

I wonder how many times I have tied God’s hands through unbelief. Countless times, I’m sure. I’m reminded of a phrase I heard one time: “Don’t let your saying nullify your praying.” I have often prayed for things according to God’s will, yet when life gets hard and I don’t see immediate answers, I start to believe the lie that God isn’t going to fulfill His promises to me. Or, like Zacharias, I focus on the obstacles rather than the God who does the impossible. Sounds pretty double minded to me.

I pray that if, like me, you must admit to double mindedness and doubt when it comes to your prayer life—God will strengthen your faith as you cling to the promises in His Word. May you find joy in remembering this: “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).