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 tread on the heights.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Habakkuk has become one of my favorite Bible books over the recent years. The dialogue between a man and a loving but just God, gets me every time... The subtle hints of similes throughout the book blow my mind. Verse 2:14 reads, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Wow. I mean, how immeasurable? How vast is His glory? It is able to drench us and consume us like the water of the earth!
There are so many beautiful things about Habakkuk but specifically, I want to dive into the ending verses of the book. Written above are three verses that give us a way out of Habakkuk's story into our own. This question is offered to us:
When ultimately everything in my life fails to produce, what do I do?
Seriously, what do you do? I want this question to poke at the sensitive places in your heart. (This is not to create pain without purpose, for I believe at times one must stoke the dying to enhance the flame.)
In the scripture we see Habakkuk losing things that, in his day, would have been his livelihood and his utmost investment. "No grapes on the vine... fields produce no food... no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls" (3:17). Habakkuk's investment was no longer available to him; spending months preparing the fields for a crop, years taking care of cattle and sheep, now all gone with nothing left for him to show.
How would you feel? This is so far-fetched for us that it is almost impossible to comprehend all the things we have worked for turning up in ruin.
Beyond boarding our ship of imagination and wondering, I would like for us to think of our lives currently. The family break, the recent friend miscommunication, the work related issue, the financial struggle... how are you coping with your problem?
Well, Habakkuk rejoiced in the Lord and was joyful in his pain.
Now, don't get me wrong. I know what you're thinking, "this is a lot harder than you think Jordan..." And I am with you there. I know it is, but that is why I am writing, encouraging you to see the rainbow through the storm.
When God offers us a relationship, He gives Himself to us fully, not half-heartedly.
When the pain of life, the doubts, the constant beat-downs, the depressing heartache, the probable failures come to your mind, it is not to throw you overboard... Remember, who is the captain of the ship? If God is your captain and directing your life, are you trusting Him fully or allowing your season to weigh on your joy?
One of my favorite verses is Exodus 13:17-18a. "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt. So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.'"
When reading this, I'm amazed by God and how perfect He is. He truly knows what is best for our lives. Perhaps, He sees all sides, scopes, and aspects of our life. He knows what could cause us to turn back, but He also knows what will make us stronger for the next encounter. He knows how to grow our faith and how not to squash it.
Next time, the Egyptian army is behind you and you're walking on dry ground in the Red Sea headed to your promised land, don't pay more attention to what is behind you. Don't have your heart focused on what is before you either, or too much about what is going on around you... Just trust the Lord, give Him the glory and lean into Him. Ultimately, the other things shouldn't matter. Joy isn't found within our past, future, or present. We can't gaze into those deep enough to find fulfillment.
Let's try keeping our "eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2-3