Praise Him In The Storm

“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.” Habakkuk 3:17-18

The book of Habakkuk ends with these beautiful verses, following two chapters of complaints about injustices around him. God’s solutions didn’t materialize like Habakkuk anticipated, but in the end, he learned to trust God’s wisdom.

We’re like Habakkuk, aren’t we? At times, we’re convinced God has somehow gotten it wrong. After all, we’re faithful, go to church, give to the needy, volunteer, and forgive transgressions…We’re Christians…We deserve to stay on the mountaintop, right?

Mountaintop security is an illusion. True security doesn’t come from a paycheck that could dry up tomorrow or from a house current on its mortgage.

Our only real security is God himself.

The Bible says rain falls on the just and unjust. Christians suffer just like non-believers, this side of heaven. Living in a fallen world, we’re destined to trek through valleys. However, many promises in the Bible point to God not letting the faithful suffer unnecessarily, nor for an indefinite period of time (though it feels like it at times).  

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12.

Some people appear to suffer more trials than others or more than what seems fair. I don’t have an answer for that, except to say God is sovereign, and we have to trust Him to do the right thing. He supplies all our needs, which may look different than we expect.

Seventeen years ago, my husband and I experienced the joy of buying our first house after our second child was born. A month later, my husband was laid off, and we were forced to put the house on the market and relocate to another city. I’ll spare you the details of trying to quick sell a house with no equity.

Two years later, my son was diagnosed with developmental delays, and we began years of speech and occupational therapy.

At five years old, my son had his first seizure. Watching my husband give him CPR, while I begged the 911 operator to expedite EMS, was a low point. There have been many valleys in my life, but you know what?

God is still on His throne. More importantly, He’s on the throne of my heart and never once has He deserted me.

Does it feel like God has deserted you? Consider this for a moment:

The toughest thing God asks is for us to die to self and be willing to sacrifice everything for Him. But hear what I’m saying. That doesn’t mean he’ll always take it.

In the Biblical story of Abraham, he’d waited his entire adult life for a son, and what did God ask of him? To put Isaac on the altar. God had no intention of taking Isaac, but he wanted Abraham’s whole heart and obedience.

God points to whatever our Isaac is and says, “Lay it on the altar.” It’s difficult to do when we can’t see the end result.

Job lost everything, and his wife said, “Are you still holding onto your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job’s answer was, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:9-10). 

The next 36 chapters of Job are filled with Job suffering and his friends giving him bad counsel. Finally, Job 38:1, says, “Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm.”

God answers all prayer—in His perfect timing.

In both Abraham’s and Job’s case, God honored their obedience. This doesn’t mean we can’t cry out to God, even when we have no words to express our pain and outrage (Romans 8:26). He can take it. God will never forsake you.

We have a choice. We can go through life with God or without Him. I don’t know about you, but I’d hate to try to live in this fallen world without Him, regardless of what He asks me to endure. I need His comfort. When I can’t trust what the world hands me, I can trust Him.

As we go to the Lord in prayer, remember our brothers and sisters facing housing crises, unemployment, and health problems, specifically Betty and Tony, as well as the anonymous request last week about a home/farm foreclosure. Pray for difficult family situations lifted up in the past few weeks, as well. Please continue to pray for Courtney, a young mother battling a cancerous brain tumor. She'll have a follow-up MRI this month to check treatment effectiveness.

Please leave your prayer requests in the comment section so others can pray for you. You may email me confidential requests.

Are you waiting on God for an answer to a difficult life situation? While you listen to this uplifting song by Casting Crowns, I encourage you to find one thing to praise God for today!