Zacharias was ministering within the temple and he didn’t come out, and he didn’t come out…the people were waiting for him…and still he didn’t come out…he was delayed by an angel giving him a message from God about a son who would be born to him and Elizabeth, his wife.  Because he didn’t believe it was possible for him and Elizabeth to conceive a child…he was given proof by the angel.  Zacharias would be unable to speak until the baby was born.

In the not so distant past, there were no cell phones, text messaging, the internet, face book or twitter.
In the days of Zacharias and Elizabeth, about 5 BC, even telephones and the telegraph were non-existent.  So Elizabeth had no clue what had happened in Jerusalem until her husband came home, mute.  The consequences of Zacharias’ unbelief left him unable to speak, he was silenced.

Zacharias still had a sound mind and he could hear, write, make signs with his hands, etc.
He was forced to wait to speak until the baby was born, nine months, nine loooong months.

Enforced waiting for anything can be a learning experience for you and me to trust God for His will, His plan and His purpose to be done in His timing.  And waiting is not easy, for we want what we want and when we want it.  Perhaps we need to listen and practice what the Psalmist said:

(NASB) Psalm 25:4-5 “Make me know Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.”

God alone can lead you in His truth

and teach you in your circumstances.

Enforced waiting is to wait all the day for the God of our salvation.
Enforced waiting is to trust Him to work in our circumstances.