I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy. ~Habakkuk 3:2 (NLT)
It can be easy to forget all the awesome and wonderful things God has done in our lives when tragedy hits our doorstep. We tend to wonder where God is in the midst of devastating circumstances. This is something that the prophet Habakkuk was no stranger to as well. In Habakkuk 1:2 he cries out to God saying “Lord, I continue to ask for help. How long will you ignore me? I cry out to you about violence, but you do not save us!” (ICB) Habakkuk had no problem openly questioning the workings of God. He struggled with the appearance that justice was a joke. He struggled with the fact that the righteous suffered while the unrighteous carried on “business as usual”. We all struggle from time to time when it appears we have been dealt "a bad hand" so to speak. But the circumstances we are looking at does not make God any less sovereign. The measure of faith given to us by God isn't just meant to save us, it is designed to sustains us as well. It keeps us going during the hard times. We not only attain eternal life by faith we also live out our lives and destinies by that very same faith. We are told in Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.” (NIV) We all have it, faith that is, but are we all using it? Are you using your faith to look higher than where you are all the way up to whose you are?
Nothing will humble us quicker or sober up our pride faster than the revelation that we are not in control of our circumstances. But we don’t have to stop there because scripture teaches that God has distributed to each of us a measure of faith. We might feel like we have been dealt a bad hand, but we can be sure we have been dealt enough faith to trust the Lord in the midst of it. Habakkuk finishes his short book with “I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. 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.” (NLT) When was the last time you made up your mind to wait quietly for the coming day you have prayed for? If you have found yourself in seemingly unjust circumstances, remember God has given you the faith to get you through. Trust in Him to cause you to walk through the hard days as surefooted as a deer on the cliffs!
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. ~Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
What are the circumstances in your life that are out of your control? Have you put your faith in the goodness and love of God regarding those circumstances?
Write an answer
Write an answer
Comments