Yet will I exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength.
Habakkuk 3:18-19
It seemed strange last week when someone at church suggested that I read the book of Habakkuk, one of the Old Testament prophets. I had read it a long time ago in a Bible study, but I decided to read it again this week. It’s very short, only three chapters. But I’ve been reading it and thinking about it all week. The prophet Habakkuk is crying out to God with his complaints about the condition of his world (between 612 and 589 B.C.). He sees that violence is everywhere…evil deeds, misery, surrounded by people who love to argue and fight… no justice in the courts…The wicked far outnumber the righteous…
As we look at the current events taking place in the world today, we might be tempted to ask the same thing that Habakkuk asked: “How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen!” The devastation of earthquakes, floods, fires, the pandemic which has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, hospitals full to overflowing, disruption of our way of life with business and schools, the political dissension, the heartbreaking situation in Afghanistan… The list can go on and on.
The Lord’s response to Habakkuk was “Look around at the nations, look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.” He tells Habakkuk of the judgment that He is bringing on His people in Judah. The Lord goes on to tell Habakkuk “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”
After Habakkuk’s conversations and questions about what God was doing, he concludes by declaring his faith in God:
Habakkuk 3:16 (NLT) I will wait quietly for the coming day… Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.
I am greatly encouraged by the reminder I read in the footnotes of my NLT Life Application Study Bible:
Habakkuk 3:17-19 Habakkuk affirmed that even in times of starvation and loss, he would still rejoice in the Lord. His feelings were not controlled by the events around him but by faith in God’s ability to give him strength. When nothing makes sense, and when troubles seem more than you can bear, remember that God gives strength…. Habakkuk saw his own limitations in contrast to God’s unlimited power and control of all the world’s events. God is alive and in control of the world and its events. We cannot see all that God is doing, and we cannot see all that God will do. But we can be assured that he is God and will do what is right. Knowing this can give us confidence and hope in a confusing world.
We can pray for strength to hold on to the truth that God is sovereignly in control of all the events of our lives, even though we can’t see an answer. We can ask Him for faith to keep on believing that He sees what we are going through and promises to provide what we need, in His time. He promises that He is with us and will never leave us. We can wait patiently and rejoice in Him as we trust.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
What situation in your life causes you to respond as Habakkuk did? “How long, O Lord, must I cry out to You?” And you can’t see an answer. Maybe there is an ongoing health issue, or a broken relationship, financial burdens, unsaved loved ones, wayward children, death of a loved one…
Can you pray and trust God as you fill in the blank: Even though ______________________________________________________________________________________________yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength.
You may want to write a prayer to God expressing your need, your trust, your commitment to rejoice in His strength as you wait for His answer
Very much needed words at this time. thank you, Sherrilyn
God used your devotional from Habbakuk to speak to me. In my journal, I wrote: “Even though Conrad has died and widowhood brings a whole different life where I have to drive, find my way around, learn to fix things, ask for help, do bills, banking, plus sleep, eat, and live alone… yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength.” I thank God for you and your faithfulness to Him and us in conveying His message to us week by week.