In my Bible the two verses stand opposite each other.

Zechariah, faced by an angel who promises him a son in his old age, says: "How can I be sure of this?" Mary, faced by the same angel carrying the message from God that she will bear His Son in her virgin womb, says: "How will this be … since I am a virgin?"

The Scriptures say they were both frightened—who wouldn't be?

The angel's reactions to two questions posed by two frightened people, are completely opposite. Gabriel removes Zechariah's ability to speak. Mary, on the other hand, gets a patient explanation. Why the difference?

Zechariah's question was triggered by unbelief. He wanted a sign—as if the appearance of an angel wasn't enough.

Mary believed what the angel told her. The question she asked was simply one of natural curiosity. "How is God going to do this since, in a Biblical sense, I don't know a man?" In the end, when Zechariah and Elizabeth's son was born as forerunner to the Saviour, Zechariah proved his faith through his insistence that the boy be named, John, just as the angel had commanded. For Mary, the faith she had was immediately evident in her response to the angel's explanation even though that explanation had to have created even more questions. She said: "I am the Lord's servant … may it be to me just as you have said."

Both of these people were facing the humanly impossible. One responded in faith, the other didn't. One said: "Could you give me a hint as to the details" and the other wanted proof, evidence, security, all the ducks lined up.

As I face a new year, there are challenges and impossibilities (humanly speaking) on the horizon. My prayer is that I will meet them with a Mary attitude, with faith even when I can't see how the impossible can become not only possible, but certain. I pray for the faith to accept the explanation—if God chooses to give me one—even when it leaves me with more questions and more places to rest my faith. May I have faith sufficient to ask for an explanation without needing the evidence, to accept the plan without needing the proof, or understanding the purposes. May I have the submissive, expectant heart that says: "I am the Lord's servant, do what you will."

The phrase tucked into the midst of all the angelic exchange says it all: "Nothing is impossible with God."