I’m not much of a perfume girl, but I am living in a home with two teens and a tween. This means that we cycle between stinky sports equipment and overuse of cologne. As with all things adolescence, nuance and moderation come with time.

That said, as I am beginning an in-depth study of Luke’s gospel this week, I’ve had fragrances on the forefront of my mind. You see, the fragrance of faith smells better than incense to the Father. As the writer of Hebrews reminded the Jewish believers, “Without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). When the aged apostle John recorded what he glimpsed of the glories of the new heavens and the new earth, he mentioned “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Revelation 5:8).

Considering these realities and having been pondering on something Sinclair Ferguson said about confidence in God being the test of true friendship with Him, I was jarred by the juxtaposition of strong incense and weak faith in Luke 1.

Strong Incense, Weak Faith

As Zachariah was literally burning incense in the Temple, his life was not exhibiting the more beautiful fragrance that is confident faith in the character of God (Luke 1:9). Even though Gabriel had been dispatched by God to tell him the incredible news that he and Elizabeth’s lifelong prayers had been heard, Zechariah doubted. He demanded the certainty which is symptomatic of fragile faith (Luke 1:13). He had the audacity to ask Gabriel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years” (Luke 1:18). Gabriel, seemingly miffed by Zechariah’s failure of faith, answered only with the facts “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news” (Luke 1:19).

I am embarrassed to admit the reason this passage resonates so deeply with me: I feel so much like Zechariah of late. I am a Christian author and someone who has spent her life doing vocational ministry. Like Zechariah, I am actively engaged in the service of the Lord, burning my own proverbial incense. Yet, my faith has felt fragile and weak for a few months. The financial realities of life in one of the most expensive cities in the United States and the forthcoming years of college costs for our sons have been doing a number on my soul. The facts of finances, like the facts of Zechariah’ and Elizabeth’s age, have been on the forefront of my mind rather than the generous character of the Father. I’ve been seeing with my eyes and not my ears. Faith is strengthened by the imparted word of God and often weakened when we stare too long at circumstances rather than our Savior.

Put simply: my life has smelled more like fear and less like the beautiful incense of faith which pleases God. Zechariah and I have been in similar places. Even writing these words brings tears to my eyes and longing to my heart. I long to have faith that pleases God, that takes Him at His Word, that trusts in His character rather than circumstances. I want my life to be fragrant incense to the Worthy One. Yet I find myself, like Zechariah, needing props for my faith, asking for certainty to shore up weaknesses in my trust.

The Silence that Strengthens Hearing that Strengthens Faith

In response to Zechariah’s request to know (when God wanted him to trust), Zechariah is struck mute for the duration of Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy. I used to think that God’s response felt punitive; however, God is restorative when He disciplines His children. Also, as I’ve thought about Gabriel’s response, it makes me wonder if God prepared him for Zechariah’s faltering faith. After all, angels don’t operate willy nilly apart from authority. He must have spoken the consequential silence in accordance with God’s good plan.

God knew the state of Zechariah’s faith before he sent the angel with the incredible news. But Zechariah’s feeble faith did not stop God’s covenant faithfulness. The silence was a gift enabling Zechariah to focus his faith back on God and the certainty of His word and character. When one cannot speak, one is much more attuned to listen – and that is exactly what Zechariah needed. To listen again to God, to see with his ears rather than his eyes. The silence strengthened his faltering faith so much so that what erupted out of Zechariah upon the birth of John the Baptist was a song of fortified faith (Luke 2:67–79). I love that Luke saw fit to record both. My soul needed to see the faltering of a faithful saint and the unfaltering faithfulness of his God.

As I have wrestled with the Lord over the noxious fumes of fear that my life has been emitting for a few months, I have experienced His graciousness and His persistence. He already knows my faith has been bruised and my soul sore, yet He gently received my admission of such. He keeps inviting me to repent and return (Isaiah 30:15). He keeps calling me to listen again to His life-giving, faith-fueling words through the Scriptures, to look longer at His Word than I am at the harsh realities of the world.

Even our weak-faithed prayers of “I believe; help my unbelief” smell sweet to Him (Mark 9:24). He collects His children’s confident prayers, their feeble prayers, and their sighs-translated-by-the-Spirit prayers. They are gathered into His golden bowls as a sweet fragrance before His throne. Isn’t that a wonder?

Here’s to a new season to offer the fragrance of faith to God and among the world. We are the aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14–17). The smell of the Son’s faithfulness is so much stronger than the smell of our sin and fear.