Zacharias asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 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.”

Luke 1:18-20 New International Version

God often fixes our understanding of Him before He fixes our circumstances. If He fixes our circumstances without first fixing our understanding, we are bound to repeat our mistakes and failures.

In the Bible, God often needs to change someone's perspective or worldview before they can step into a new season and actually enjoy it. If they were to bring their baggage or disappointment from their past, they can easily block themselves from trusting God for their future. This is because it feels so painful and so fearful to be disappointed again if what God has promised has not yet come to pass. 

Zacharias was one who held onto hope of a son until there was nothing for him to hope for. The good news from the Angel Gabriel concerning Elisabeth's pregnancy raises more doubt and uncertainty for Zacharias instead of joy and gladness. This was because his wife was barren and they were too old.

Perhaps this is you. Maybe you have been hopeful when the circumstances seem right and seemingly easier for God to come through for you. But with each passing day, when the circumstances have become increasingly difficult and even impossible, trusting God for what He has promised feels more like a trial than a blessing. 

Zacharias' inability to speak was not a punishment but to prepare him to be more amazed by God's grace and faithfulness. The next time Zacharias opened his mouth, it was not John his son he spoke about first, but Jesus the expected Messiah who was yet to be born. The priest became a prophet because God changed his perspective and renewed his confidence to trust Him. 

In the same way, God needs to change your perspective of Him so that He can carry you to your new season of growing in your new understanding and experience of His grace and love. God can turn the worrier in you into a warrior. He can turn your wounds into words of wisdom and comfort, and even help others to find their healing and wholeness in Christ. He can turn your devastating disappointments into His divine appointments that open new doors for you to thrive and flourish.

We can only do what we can do, but God can do what we cannot do.