I read an online obituary for a friend’s father. My heart ached for my friend as I imagined how painful it would be to lose a parent. I sent him an email of condolence and was surprised by his quick response. “It’s been a tough year, but I’m rejoicing in our hope in Christ.” Even as he mourned, he spoke of hope and faith.
Similarly, the words of Habakkuk 3:2 surprise me. The prophet sang that “in this time of our deep need,” he was “filled with awe by [God’s] amazing works.”
The time of deep need Habakkuk referred to was the tumultuous period before the exile of God’s people. The ruthless Babylonian empire was growing in power. Meanwhile, Judah was turning away from God (Habakkuk 1:2-4). Habakkuk lamented the disobedience of the people and called out to the Lord.
He must have been startled to learn that the Babylonians would be God’s chosen instrument for disciplining His people (Habakkuk 1:6-11). Yet, in a culture of sin, with war on the horizon, Habakkuk marveled at God and said, “Help us again . . . remember your mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2). What an amazing response.
Sometimes I’m tempted to question God’s sovereign rule when bad things happen. When all I can see is the proliferation of sin and injustice, I grow tired and complain like Habakkuk did. But his small book also shows me how to respond after the complaints are over. The prophet famously said, “The righteous will live by their faithfulness to God” (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11).
My friend’s email reflects this response of enduring loss with hope. Habakkuk said, “[God’s] coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. . . . When he looks, the nations tremble. . . . He is the Eternal One!” (Habakkuk 3:4,6). May we find the hope and strength we need in God today.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Mark 10:35-52
More:
Read Proverbs 3:5-6 and think about what it means to trust God when you’re in deep need.
Next:
What happens when you choose to rejoice in God even when you’re in deep need? Meditate on some of God’s attributes and consider why they fill you with hope and trust.
Gary Shultz on August 26, 2016 at 6:28 am
Hi Andy, we would all want a response like your friend; usually it’s somewhat less in hard times. The lesson was more acutely driven home to me once again, about two weeks ago. I don’t do the expense of cable, dish, or whatever, but I have made a smaller expense investment in Netflix. Although there many titles not fit for viewing, I would like to share with you an astounding video called “Furious Love”. I can not verify the total validity of the documentation, but it was certainly eye opening. The most vivid part that references to your post today, were African villages where people were murdered, women raped and homes destroyed. From the ruins and pain of unprovoked onslaught, the people rose to worship God. I felt like Job when he said “I am unworthy…. I put my hand over my mouth” For those that have Netflix and are not faint of heart, take a trip into worlds we don’t usually consider. You may disagree with some of the methods, and wonder how this is possible, but I am just mentioning this for consideration. I apologize for somewhat promoting a film; however I share this in mind and care of the ODJ readers, knowing it isn’t and will not be the norm of most regular content…… I have much to learn! Thanks Andy
hsnpoor on August 26, 2016 at 12:23 pm
I just purchased one of those “SMART” TV’s for the purpose of using it like a big ole computer screen and view Netflix and other streaming programs because I also rarely, if ever, watch traditional TV. I appreciate the recommendation and will look it up. Thanks for the tip, Gary! Reading this devotion today put me in mind of an OT story of a battle and I can’t remember for the life of me where the account is or names of the people involved, but the Israelites were outnumbered by the enemy (that’s not new) and, if I remember correctly, instead of fighting, they began praising the LORD, louder and louder, and the more they praised the more the LORD conquered their enemies and the battle was won. Anybody have a clue what I’m talking about and if so, where this story is told? I’d love to revisit.
gagirllive on August 26, 2016 at 7:15 am
Amen, Andy. By the way, it’s been a while since we’ve heard something from you. Nice to have you back. 🙂 “Rejoice in the Lord” is a theme that runs throughout all of scripture and is most often aligned with trials and suffering—when we need the encouragement most. It really is unnatural for us to rejoice when we’re hurting, but the Holy Spirit enables us to live beyond our natural selves. It all comes down to what we’ve said here time and time again—fixing our eyes on Him changes our perspective. When Christ becomes our vision, everything else shrinks to its right proportions. We are certainly living in perilous times. I’ve never been more troubled in my soul. I’m sure the enemy is accelerating his activity in these last days. I feel it on a personal level, and I see it all around me…nationally, even globally. But as Habakkuk says further down in the chapter when life around him was at its bleakest, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (v.18) May this be our anthem as we shine the light of Christ in this dark world. People will want to know the secret of our joy. Let’s make them ask. I read this from a commentary once, “This is the hilarity of our faith—joy at its best with circumstances at their worst!” I sure want to live like that. Don’t you? You’ve encouraged my heart today. Thanks, Andy. Grace and peace, fellow travelers!
sandy229 on August 26, 2016 at 11:24 am
You’re right, there have never been more bleak times than we have today. I agree with all you have said. Thanks for the blessings you have given me GAgirl.
Mike Wittmer on August 26, 2016 at 7:34 am
Great point, Andy. Our hope can only come from Jesus and what He will do. Any hope in our circumstances will eventually and certainly disappoint.
sandy229 on August 26, 2016 at 11:35 am
Amen!
Tom Felten on August 26, 2016 at 9:32 am
Good thoughts, Andy. May God use the sin, pain, and injustice in the world to draw us closer to Him. Instead of turning away from Him in bitterness, may we turn to Him and find true hope and goodness.
sandy229 on August 26, 2016 at 11:22 am
Amen Tom!!
minkjh on August 26, 2016 at 11:19 am
Poignant reminder that many of us become orphaned at some point in our lives, Andy. Thankfully we have the assurance from our Lord that he will never leave us or forsake us as your friend bore witness. And that promise holds true no matter the severity of suffering, peril, or tribulation we encounter this side of glory.
hsnpoor on August 26, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Amen!
sandy229 on August 26, 2016 at 11:21 am
Good word for today Andy…..I heard some disturbing news on T.V. last night. It was reported that many adults are turning away from God. The Bible does say this will happen in the last days, and I believe these are the last days. I shudder to think it could get worse than it is. Our hope is in God. We don’t need to speculate whether or not He will do something He has said He will do, because if God says He will do something, you can be 100% sure that He will do it. We can have confident hope in everything He has promised. Scripture indicates that Jesus will return and join us with those who have already died. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. So our hope is not in speculating what God might do, but our hope is in God and what we know He will do. When God speaks a word, He stands by it to see that it comes to pass. God never deceives His children. God is faithful!
Shalom to everyone in this forum.
johnswanson on August 26, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Theodicy is a fascinating topic. It seems to me that human goodness develops through the experience of evil and suffering.
hsnpoor on August 26, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Hmmmm…. I think it could go either way, john. It really is a choice; pain, evil and suffering can make some folks bitter while others get better. It all depends on the lens by which we chose to see and live out our lives; the finite perspective of what we can see with our own eyes or through the lens of the infinite perspective of He who sees ALL.