The Meaning of Trust - Habakkuk 3 (Week 6 - Post 2)

Read Habakkuk 3 today.  If it has been several days since you were in Habakkuk, it would be advantageous to begin at the beginning of the book to refresh your mind on the flow of the dialogue.  Then come back ...

In chapter 1 of this book, we observe Habakkuk wondering and questioning.  He doesn't doubt God, he just doesn't understand.

In chapter 2, we observe the prophet watching and waiting for God's response and activity.  He knows that the righteous live by faith and he is willing to watch and wait - to live by faith.

Then we come to chapter 3 and we see this prophet worshiping.  He has moved from the questions and confusion through the decision to watch and wait all the way to adoration and worship.  You feel the humility, the awe of God, the reference for Him.  Verses 17 - 19 constitute one of the most beautiful statements of total trust in all of scripture.  And in that trust lies the secret to joy. 

Now ... take whatever circumstance you are having to walk through right now that is difficult.  Do you have it in mind?  Walk it through these three chapters .... 1) take your questions and confusion to God.  Ask Him about it.  Tell Him you don't understand why you must see or do this thing.  Then, 2) ask yourself if you are willing to watch and wait for God to act.  If you decide that you are willing, then you must practice!  And 3) spend your time in worship.  Tell God what you know of Him ... His splendor and mighty hand, His power and His righteousness.  Can you conclude as did Habakkuk, with the statement that even if things do not go your way ... even if circumstances do not work as you would have them work out ... even if things remain hard ... I will rejoice in God my Savior.  I will find joy in the Lord, not in the circumstance.  After all, the Lord is sovereign.  The Lord is all-knowing.  The Lord is all-wisdom.  The Lord is all-love.  The Lord is all-mercy.  I will find joy.  Not only joy ... but the strength to go on.  You will gain the strength to go on to be the best, the highest, you can be as long as you are allowing the strength of God, your trust in Him, to be the force that carries you.  The strength that enables you. 

Let's memorize these 3 verses ... they need to be in the warp and woof of our psyche. 

     Though the fig tree does not bud

          and there are no grapes 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 rejoice in the Lord,

          I will be joyful in God my Savior.

     The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

          He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

          He enables me to go on the heights.