Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NLT)
17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty.
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
When negative circumstances bring your plans to a halt, it is not enough to just keep going and not give up. You must respond to the lack of visible results the way Habakkuk did.
Habakkuk did something in the face of negative circumstances. Habakkuk’s action reveals the appropriate response to negative circumstances. God told Habakkuk to write down his vision. God told Habakkuk to be patient as God would cause Habakkuk’s vision to come to pass. God told Habakkuk to live by faith. Habakkuk took significant action when confronted by negative circumstances. Habakkuk’s action-response contains your answer to negative circumstances and negative events.
With the farm crops failed and the farm animals dead, the situation looks bleak for Habakkuk and his people. With famine in the land and the world-renowned cruelty of the Babylonians on the horizon, Habakkuk and his people would encounter dismal circumstances and a lack of visible results. Habakkuk’s response to these discouraging circumstances should also be your response to discouraging circumstances. Habakkuk’s response to dismal circumstances is your answer to preventing discouragement and frustration while enabling the power of God.
Habakkuk’s action-response was to rejoice in the Lord! The third chapter in the book of Habakkuk is a prayer which Habakkuk sang. Habakkuk’s response to the most dismal of circumstances was to sing and praise God. The Old Testament prophet, Habakkuk, had learned to have joy in his life regardless of circumstances. Habakkuk had a source of strength that sustained him during dismal circumstances.
Habakkuk knew where his strength for the victory would come from. The Lord God was his strength. Habakkuk’s prayer praises God for who He is, what He has done, and what He is going to do. Habakkuk thanked God in advance for the accomplishment of his vision. Habakkuk had learned to live by faith and to trust in God’s providence regardless of circumstances. Habakkuk’s response to suffering and loss was to praise and thank God. When negative circumstances come into your life, praise and thank God for who He is, what He has done, and what He is going to do.
When you encounter opposition to your goals, praise the Lord and remain joyful. Through all of the trials during your life, maintain an attitude of praise and thanksgiving to God. That is what Habakkuk did and you can do it too!
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