Hab 3:17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls–Hab 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Hab 3:19 The Lord God is my strength;He will make my feet like deer’s feet,And He will make me walk on my high hills.
Everybody can worship God when everything is in place as it should be at least in our eyes. When barns are full, stalls are full, orchards are full. But what about when these things are empty? How will we react? ( Chris Bashan, 23/3/2020)
Habakkuk creates a picture of emptiness and despair. Imagine a scenario depicting a total crop failure where everything has been ravaged by persistent drought and flocks being cut off from the fold! Fig trees not blossoming, the olive being fruitless and the vines not producing fruit is evidence of emptiness and despair. Yet in the midst of all these, Habakkuk resolved to rejoice in the Lord!
Our joy and hope is not and should not be pegged on external circumstances. Yes we may have lost our livelihoods, facing hard times economically, Court cases, sibling rivalries, lose our health etc but we should not allow despair to reign. We may lose things that we value in this world but we should not loose hope . “The deepest level of worship is praising God inspite of the pain, thanking God during trials, trusting God when tempted to lose hope and loving him when he seems so distant and far away” (Anonymous). God wants to fill us with hope to he point that our lives overflows with it.
Further readings:
Psa 23:4
Is a 40:31
Hab 2:14
🙏 Blessed Week 🙏