The book of Habakkuk…have you read it? I don’t think I really had until recently…but found it interesting that God presented it to me. Through my own personal faith walk, I’ve learned the more I listen to God, and sit quietly, the more God speaks to me. The less I talk, and the more I wait on Him, the more I grow. This particular morning I prayed that God would be present with me, and speak to me. After sitting in silence for a bit, I reached over to the Bible sitting next to me and just opened it up. I do this a lot. I pray that God will present the right words He wants me to hear, and then open up the Bible and read.

I opened up to chapter 1 of Habakkuk. Habakkuk is only 3 chapters, so it’s pretty easy to read the whole book, so I did. I found it fascinating the conversation back and forth between God and Habakkuk. I did feel a little confused reading it, so I turned to the intro page of Habakkuk to learn more about this particular book in the Bible. This book is about the prophet Habakkuk crying out to God on His people’s behalf. At this time there was a lot of evil happening in the world, and Habakkuk prays to God asking three questions.

1. Why was God putting up with the wickedness of of His people?
2. Why would He use even more wicked people (Chaldeans AKA Babylonians) to punish His people?
3. How long would He allow those who do evil to rule in the world?
   (Taken from the One Big Story Bible)

Have you ever found yourself asking God these same questions? I know I have. Sometimes living in today’s world can seem so overwhelming and scary. (Especially right now with all this COVID-19 craziness.)

God’s answer? Have faith and TRUST HIM! Even when they do not understand His ways.

Man, is that answer something I needed to read. TRUST HIM. Sometimes that is SO hard to do. When life seems out of control, or things seem unbearable, or just plain unfair, it can be hard to just trust. When it seems like evil is more prevalent than good, when the bad guys seem to be winning, or you encounter blow…after blow…after blow…it’s easy to cry out to God asking WHY? It’s easy to question why God is allowing it to happen, or why He isn’t doing something to stop it.

God’s answer is fitting for our family’s battle with cancer…and fitting for the current COVID-19 world we are living in. Have FAITH and TRUST in Him.

I do not think it was a mistake that the Bible I picked up that particular morning was my daughter’s One Big Story Bible. In order for God to speak to me the way I think He desired, I needed to read this particular intro page. I chuckle because God must really need to dumb things down for me to understand. He also used our kid’s Jesus Storybook Bible, the Jericho story in particular, to show us to take an alternative path for Brad’s cancer treatment. (You can catch up on how our story began with these posts Meet the Holwerdas, How Our Jericho Story Began, The Jericho Story – Part 2, The Jericho Story – Part 3)

Listen to this, and see if it is relevant to what is currently happening in this world.
“The prophet Habakkuk looked at the world around him and saw that evil was everywhere–so he prayed to God. Unlike other prophets, who were used by God to speak to the people, Habakkuk spoke to God for the people. Habakkuk asked God three questions (listed above). God’s answer to Habakkuk was that His people must have faith and trust Him–even when they do not understand His ways. He would take care of His people. And even though Habakkuk did not understand, he declared that he would rejoice in God no matter what (3:17-19).” (Taken from the One Big Story Bible, italicization added)

Wow…let’s try and be Habakukks. Rejoicing in the Lord, no matter what. Despite going through persecution. In the face of evil. When things seem like they can’t get any worse…rejoice.

Are you rejoicing in the Lord despite hardship? If I’m being completely honest on good days, yes! And not so good days? Not so much. We are all a work in progress, aren’t we? This book of the Bible is a really great reminder that God is in control, always. Even if we don’t understand why something is happening, we can decide to praise God no matter what.

“The book of Habakkuk was written to explain that even though evil may sometimes seem to win in the world, God is really in control. Sooner or later, God will punish the wicked, but it will be in His own time and His own way” (One Big Story Bible)

In other words, leave it up to God. He is in control…not you, me, or any other person walking this Earth. And because He is in control, we are able to rejoice in Him!

Let’s also remember that God’s timing is always perfect. We try to force things to happen in our time, and in our own way, don’t we? I’ve been finding the less I try to control, and instead let God have the control…I’m amazed how, indeed, His timing and ways are perfect.

I’m so thankful for that.

I encourage you to read the book of Habakkuk and see what God desires to share with you.

Continuing to be strong and courageous,
Lindsey

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The Lord my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on the mountain heights!” Habakkuk 3:16-19