LOOK TO THE LORD

The book of Habakkuk is a short book toward the end of the Old Testament, which details a conversation between the prophet Habakkuk and God in which Habakkuk expresses hopelessness and despair about the reality of the prosperity of the wicked over the righteous. The nation is in moral decline because of their rebellion against God and all hope seems to be lost. Habakkuk turns to God for the answer.  Although this was thousands of years ago, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities in our society today. No matter where you live, there is political unrest and violence everywhere. Society seems to stray farther and farther away from God, and it can feel hopeless to witness injustice and ungodliness seem to prevail. Even turning on the news can feel like a struggle when every new story contributes to an overall feeling of helplessness.

Although my faith in God is still standing, it's easy to look at a wicked world and wonder how He can stand it all.  Habakkuk felt the same way...frustrated and helpless. He voices his concern multiple times throughout the book, wondering how God can tolerate it and watch His chosen people choose to turn away from Him again and again and again. But one thing that amazes me about this book is how Habakkuk turns to God and pours his heart out to Him. Throughout the book, Habakkuk unabashedly names his fears and doubts when it comes to the state of things. There's no hesitation when he comes to God, just sincerity about his confusion. He looks to God for the answer instead of yielding to the despair in the world around him. 

The thing I find admirable is Habakkuk’s transparency with God. I think we often feel that we have to filter our reactions and feelings when we come to Him, especially when they are negative. However, God already knows how we feel. He is just waiting for us to trust Him with all of our emotions - not only the positive ones. God wants our confusion, shame, fear, sadness, and pain so He can take them for us. Even if things are bad, He wants to hear what’s on our minds and our hearts.  Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, for I will give you rest…My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

Although bringing our concerns to God doesn’t fix everything immediately, it does bring us a sense of peace that surpasses our understanding. After the book of Habakkuk is finished, the injustice and the threat of the Babylonians are still there. All of his problems and the things that cause him despair still exist. And yet, Habakkuk is still able to find joy in the Lord and trust in Him deeper. Habakkuk 3:18-19 says, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength!”  When the circumstances around us look dire, it is easy to lose hope. But let us do like Habbakuk and look to the Lord instead of falling into despair or fear.

~Nia L. Roberts