Often when God’s people appear to be in some of the worst positions imaginable, He does the impossible! During such times, we must make the conscious choice to believe Him and what comes out of our mouths must be what God has spoken — we cannot be silent. I believe we are now living in just such a moment.
In Psalm 115, the psalmist paints a grave picture, saying, “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor any who go down into silence” (Psalm 115:17). In the Hebrew, “any who go down into silence” means those who cannot speak.
Unbelief can close your mouth — you lose your speech, your song, your testimony, your sense of awe of who God really is. A story in the book of Luke gives a clear illustration of this type of strange silence. The angel of the Lord appeared to a righteous priest named Zacharias and told him his barren wife, Elisabeth, would bear a son.
God said, “I am going to act supernaturally in your life. In spite of your lack of ability, I am going to do something sovereign, and it is going to turn people back to Me” (read the account in Luke 1:5-22).
Like Zacharias, you may be as righteous as possible — attending every prayer meeting, reading the Bible faithfully, living for Him daily. But we all come to a point of hopelessness when we call out to the Father, seeking Him for answers.
In such moments He may speak something so deep and profound that it would be impossible to imagine unless God Himself performed it. That is when you come to a road of decision. Are you going to believe God or are you going to believe the frailties of your own heart?
I strongly urge you to believe God’s promises and receive what He has provided for you. Do not shrink back in unbelief and doubt, as Zacharias did.
Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 at the invitation of the founding pastor, David Wilkerson, and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001.