How can I be sure?

One of the stories of Advent is the encounter between Zechariah the priest, and Gabriel, the Lord's angel.  Zechariah is on duty in the temple burning incense for the people when he is visited by Gabriel. Of ccourse, Zechariah is a bit disturbed, but manages to listen to the Divine message being delivered that he and Elizabeth will conceive a son in their old age, who becomes John the Baptist. (See Luke 1 for the full story.)

In response to this shocking news, Zechariah's first words are, "How can I be sure this will happen?"

In many ways, that feels like the honest cry of Advent.  We want to believe one is coming!  We want to be filled with hope!  We want to see deliverance!  But how can we be sure?!?!

After all, look around.  This world is broken, and we all know it.  We may have already encountered the Divine and are doing our best to follow Him, but there are still times when our hearts (if we are honest), cry out, "How can I be sure?!"

And that's the thing about Advent, it requires our trust.  Gabriel may have responded to Zechariah's question as if he couldn't believe he would have any doubts ("I've been sent here directly from God's presence!"), but we don't have that perspective.  So we must exercise our faith muscles.

"Lord, this Advent season help me to trust You, even when I don't feel sure!"