What or who is Habakkuk? It sounds like a foreign language, doesn't it? Well, Habakkuk was a prophet in the Old Testament. He lived in a time when hope was gone. Violence and destruction was all around him. He could not believe what was happening. We may feel the same way in the world we live in. He couldn't believe that God was allowing these things to happen. Right in the beginning of the book he asks: God, how long shall I cry and you will not hear? Sounds like when we are going through some difficult situation and we ask: where are you God? Why don't you do something! God promises, but He doesn't need to explain anything. We wait for His timing. Evil may appear to triumph, for a while, but it will not last. God is always in control. Although Habakkuk's situation doesn't change, by the end of the book, he is rejoicing. Why? What changed? What made the difference? The difference is that God tells him how the story ends. He tells him that things will be OK. Knowing God's plan for the future renewed his faith in God's sovereignty in the present.
Sometimes when I pick up a book to read, I like going to the end first. I want to know how the story will end. Sometimes the ending determines if I even want to read the book. I like true stories, and if there are pictures in the book, I look at them first. That gives me an idea what the story is about and who the players are. Sometimes we may wonder how long we have on this earth and how it will all end. We cannot know. However, one thing I do know is that some day I will go to my "forever" home, where I will be reunited with loved ones, and that gives me comfort. Habakkuk also felt comforted, once God told him how all this mess he was surrounded by, would end. In these uncertain times that we live in, we must entrust our future to God. We must have joy and live in the present. Try to take one day at a time and look forward to what tomorrow may bring. There are still good things in this world. There are people who have the gift of finding joy everywhere and of leaving it behind them when they go. My husband, Galen, is always joyful. When people ask him how he is doing, he always says, "I am happy to be here". That takes some people by surprise, but one thing it does is that it usually puts a smile on their face, and then they say something nice, or "me too, I am happy to be here". There are some things we cannot fix, so leave them to God to figure out.
If you have time I suggest you read the book Habakkuk. It is very short.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control......
Have a Blessed Day!
