There are times that life can be difficult. Difficult times can come to anyone and at any time. It is not limited to people who are struggling or those of low estate. People who are affluent, have their problems also. The difference is the kind of problem people face. When your funds are limited, then paying your rent or mortgage can be a challenge at times. When you have lots of money, your problem is how to keep and grow what you have within the limits of the law.
Well how do you move forward when the road is dark ahead? What do you do when the burden is heavy and you don’t have someone to champion your cause? You cannot stay and wallow in self-pity; you have to push forward in God. You see sometimes the circumstances might not be what you desire, but what do you do? When Habakkuk looked at the situation that plagued his community, he made a decision to trust God.
“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
Habakkuk made a decision to take his eyes off the circumstances and put his trust in God. The situation looked hopeless because there was no bud on the fig tree. There were no grapes on the vines and in every sector of the community, the items needed for growth were nonexistent. It would have been easy for Habakkuk to go in a corner and sing a sad song while feeling sorry for himself and his country. But he didn’t do that. He looked at the barrenness of the nation and came up with a different response.
He began with the word yet. The Collins English Dictionary says that “You use yet in negative statements to indicate that something has not happened up to the present time.” So in spite of the circumstances surrounding him; in spite of all the things that appeared to be going wrong, he would rejoice in the Lord. When you rejoice in the Lord, you bring change into what is happening in your life.
David echoed a similar refrain; he said, “But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.” It’s not if trouble comes but when troubles come, you can look them in the face and say yet I will rejoice in the Lord.
Victory Walk 