“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 rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Habakkuk 3:17-18
Do you aspire to be what I call a “Habakkuk Christian”? This is someone whose mindset rejoices in who God is and His greater purposes, regardless of circumstances. It is demonstrated by a life of faith described best by Habakkuk: “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 rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Before my husband’s battle with cancer, I wanted to be like Habakkuk. And as my husband’s health deteriorated, my life came closer to resembling his anguish: “O Lord, how long shall I cry and thou wilt not hear?”
During the weeks that followed my husband’s death, I realized, as did Habakkuk, the pathway from agony to acceptance is a process God takes us through gradually. As we experience His sufficient grace for our darkest days, we realize that even if we are faithless, He remains faithful.
Eventually, we can come to accept as Habakkuk did: “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
Where are our high places? They are the sites of unshakable, sure-footed confidence in the Lord, in His sovereignty, in His love, and in His wisdom. They are where He providentially positions us to transform us into the image of His Son.
Father, today I am thankful when we are faithless, You do remain faithful. Amen.
Take Action
Read through the book of Habakkuk. Trace the road Habakkuk followed: from utter despair to complete confidence in the unfolding purposes of God.