Have you ever considered the different responses of Zechariah(father of John) and Mary(mother of Jesus) when they encountered the prophetic Word of God delivered by the angel Gabriel?
In Luke 1:18 Zachariah asks the angel Gabriel “By what shall I know and be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” and in Luke 1:34 Mary asks the angel Gabriel “How can this be, since I have no intimacy with any man as a husband?”.
Each had questions but each received completely different responses from the angel Gabriel. Zechariah was struck dumb for 9 months and Mary was not.
In Luke 1:20 we find out why Zechariah was struck dumb “Now behold, you will be and will continue to be silent and not able to speak till the day when these things take place, because you have not believed what I told you; but my words are of a kind which will be fulfilled in the appointed and proper time.” The emphasis in this verse being “because you have not believed”.
Nothing cuts across the Word of God more than unbelief. The hallmark and essence of a Christian is faith and trust in God and His Word.
Although the Word of God can’t be thwarted (see Luke 1:37 below) but it can be hindered and there can be consequences that can affect you and others.
One final note, Zechariah was struck dumb, he could not speak. May I suggest that unbelief often doesn’t just stay in our hearts it’s gurgles out of our mouths and affect others and our environment.
“For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.” [Luke 1:37]
Enlightened Hope 
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