Do you ever finish reading a book feeling like you are now friends with the author? You've laughed with them and, if you are me, usually cried with them. You've felt their enthusiasm and their pain. You have nodded your head more times than you can count, often times with a smile on your face. You've expressed delight in things they have said, though not with words, but with underlining and notations. You've questioned what they said, sometimes agreeing, sometimes not...but, either way, it's stretched you and grown your discernment muscles and for that you are thankful.
I spent the morning with the prophet Habakkuk last week...and, many of the emotions I just shared bubbled to the surface in our short time together. Three chapters....words were few...of course, he is a guy, after all ;). I walked away thankful for his life and for the road God placed him on during the increasingly troublesome days for Judah. He shared some things with me that I thought might encourage your heart, as it did mine!
Habakkuk starts with a prayer...a prayer that finds him sounding pretty discouraged and even a little confused: "How long, Lord, must I call for help and You do not listen, or cry out to you about violence and You do not save?" (1:2) He knew there was only One who could help, only One who could truly save...and that is who He petitioned. Our merciful God answered back. You know, He always answers! Sometimes, it's with a no, sometimes a yes and, most often, He tells us to wait. Wait on Him, that is.
This time is no different. He lets Habakkuk know, in chapter 2, that the answer (in a vision) is coming: "Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late" (2:3b). And if, even for a moment, Habakkuk should wonder what to do during the wait, God reminds him that "the righteous one will live by his faith" (2:4b). He gave this "obscure" prophet the assurance of His presence in answering his cry of confusion. He reminded him of His promises, though there be a season of waiting, He is never slow in keeping them. And He showed Habakkuk what He purposed for him to do amidst the wait: keep walking by faith.
Habakkuk started with a prayer and ends with confident praise in the God of his salvation. The circumstances had not changed, but neither had the character of God. We see a beautiful picture of true contentment!
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation." Habakkuk 3:17-18
Thousands of years later, our hearts still echo the words of Habakkuk, our friend and fellow brother in Christ. We still cry out to the Lord when our hearts are discouraged or confused and He still answers through His Word and the circumstances He brings...reminding us of His presence, His promises and His purposes that will not fail. With eyes fixed on Him, confidently trusting in His sovereign care, we find our hearts content; not because our circumstances are always easy or pain free but because our King is on His throne, His final triumph is guaranteed and our salvation is forever!
It was a good morning, indeed!
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