"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, NIV
I woke up early, too early, it seems, on this twenty-ninth lenten morning. As soon as I opened my eyes, my mind began running like the fastest race cars featured on TV because of hardships that have lumbered through my door. And, despite the many miles God has walked with me on this journey of faith, I could feel my heart slowly drifting this morning from the path of faith to a place of fear.
Fear.
Bona fide fear.
As in . . . will God get me through this? How is He going to get me through this?
Fear began its crippling effect on me because I allowed myself to focus too much on the immediate crises facing me. I failed to realize the spiritual resources granted to me in Christ Jesus. I forgot to rehearse in my heart and mind that "the One in me is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
Then, just like that, the Holy Spirit prompted me to remember a passage I read last night before slipping under the covers:
What, Lord?
You want me to thank You instead of embracing fear?
You want me to sing of Your steadfast love, faithfulness, and glory instead of doubting Your hand?
Exactly.
Friend, I know you've been there.
You hear a clear message to look through the lens of faith and yet persist on seeing through physical eyes.
As followers of Christ, you and I are encouraged to remind ourselves that present circumstances are but two-dimensional and flat—we only see them though our earthly eyes. In the natural world, our sight feeds our mind, which then leads to action. With no buds on trees, as we read above in Habakkuk, we can conclude that the Israelites might have embraced fear -- thinking that there was no hope for a good crop, no possibilities of fruitful seasons in the future, no provision to carry them through the winter months, no clothing for their bodies, no shelter for the homeless, “no nuthin” as some say.
Fear.
Bona fide fear.
As in . . . will God get me through this? How is He going to get me through this?
Fear began its crippling effect on me because I allowed myself to focus too much on the immediate crises facing me. I failed to realize the spiritual resources granted to me in Christ Jesus. I forgot to rehearse in my heart and mind that "the One in me is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
Then, just like that, the Holy Spirit prompted me to remember a passage I read last night before slipping under the covers:
"I will give thanks to You,
O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let Your glory be over all the earth!"
Psalm 108:3-5, NIV
What, Lord?
You want me to thank You instead of embracing fear?
You want me to sing of Your steadfast love, faithfulness, and glory instead of doubting Your hand?
Exactly.
Friend, I know you've been there.
You hear a clear message to look through the lens of faith and yet persist on seeing through physical eyes.
As followers of Christ, you and I are encouraged to remind ourselves that present circumstances are but two-dimensional and flat—we only see them though our earthly eyes. In the natural world, our sight feeds our mind, which then leads to action. With no buds on trees, as we read above in Habakkuk, we can conclude that the Israelites might have embraced fear -- thinking that there was no hope for a good crop, no possibilities of fruitful seasons in the future, no provision to carry them through the winter months, no clothing for their bodies, no shelter for the homeless, “no nuthin” as some say.
In Habakkuk’s
time, figs, grapes, and olives were such needed assets in Israel that a failed
crop would severely cripple the economy and the wellbeing of the people. In
other words, looking at the unproductive gardens was akin to our watching the
news and hearing the anchorman predict financial doom for America. Yet, in spite of that bleak prediction based on human wisdom,
Habakkuk chose to rejoice in the divine wisdom of our Creator.
How was that possible?
Like the apostle Paul, Habakkuk learned the secret to joy and contentment—“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13). In other words, Habakkuk realized that he could endure the harshest of circumstances as long as he kept his eyes on the Source of his strength and joy. In fact, Habakkuk further states, “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer, He enables me to go on the heights” (3:19).
King David understood that concept also when he penned Psalm 30:5a, “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” At the end of his Psalm, David wrote some encouraging words on this topic: “You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give You thanks forever” (Ps. 30:11-12).
Joy.
Strength.
Gratitude.
Confidence.
Thanksgiving.
All of these can replace the fear that seeks to cripple you and me when facing seemingly insurmountable trials because of God's benevolent hand. As I meditated further on God's grace, Hosea 2:6-7 brought more divine illumination to my heart,
How was that possible?
Like the apostle Paul, Habakkuk learned the secret to joy and contentment—“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13). In other words, Habakkuk realized that he could endure the harshest of circumstances as long as he kept his eyes on the Source of his strength and joy. In fact, Habakkuk further states, “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer, He enables me to go on the heights” (3:19).
King David understood that concept also when he penned Psalm 30:5a, “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” At the end of his Psalm, David wrote some encouraging words on this topic: “You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give You thanks forever” (Ps. 30:11-12).
Joy.
Strength.
Gratitude.
Confidence.
Thanksgiving.
All of these can replace the fear that seeks to cripple you and me when facing seemingly insurmountable trials because of God's benevolent hand. As I meditated further on God's grace, Hosea 2:6-7 brought more divine illumination to my heart,
"Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes;
I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.
She will chase after her lovers but not catch them;
She will chase after her lovers but not catch them;
she will look for them but not find them.
then she will say, 'I will go back to my husband as at first.' "
As we pray, might we ask God to illumine our hearts to view seemingly insurmountable trials as thornbushes blocking our straying from the path of faith? Might we pray for
strength to exercise faith with boldness—delighting in God, following His ways,
obeying His precepts, and thanking Him for His grace and wisdom? Might we pray
for the assurance that our loving and almighty God will restore us to wholeness
no matter how broken we are presently? Might we ask God to open our eyes to see
that true joy does not come from health, wealth, spouse, love interest, family,
friendship, paycheck, business, or stuff but from the wonder-working power of
the gospel?
Wall us in, Lord! The path that leads to fear and death is too wide and alluring for us. Before we stray too far, please have Your thornbushes ready to block our path so that we may follow the narrow way of life. May we feel the sting of Your training and the rod of Your correction! May our ears be attentive and our hearts submissive so we can walk with You in Your way, Your truth, and Your life, O Christ!
Wall us in, Lord! The path that leads to fear and death is too wide and alluring for us. Before we stray too far, please have Your thornbushes ready to block our path so that we may follow the narrow way of life. May we feel the sting of Your training and the rod of Your correction! May our ears be attentive and our hearts submissive so we can walk with You in Your way, Your truth, and Your life, O Christ!
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