As we read the news headlines today we see that unemployment is up, homes sales are down, the threat of terrorism is up, and consumer confidence is down. The hard times we are experiencing is similar to what the prophet described in verse 17.
17Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
It is easy to get mired in the bad news, but it is important for us to push beyond it and fix our attention on the Lord. The Prophet said that despite all the negativity of his circumstances God was a source of two blessings in his life.
1. Joy: Notice verse 18. Habakkuk says that his ultimate source of joy was the Lord. The economy of verse 17 was completely devastated, but Habukkuk said, “That’s alright, God is the one who fills my life with joy, not the things of this world.” Can we learn to say that also?
2. Power: Notice verse 19. Habukkuk also said that His source of strength was God. Again, the economy described in verse 17 was in total meltdown, but Habukkuk was not frantic. He said, “God is my source of power. He gives me the strength to prevail. My security is not in the things of this world, but in the supernatural strength of God.” Can we learn to say that also?
It is interesting to see what is happening in the world today. I think it is one of the signs of the times (a birth pang) suggesting Christ’s coming is drawing closer. When people lose everything they have they tend to lose their joy and confidence. But when Christians lose what they have, they realize their true joy and power is in the Lord — and no one can take God away!
Why is it so difficult to focus on the invisible?
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