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REFLECTION
What is the most difficult experience you have had to weather in your life? For some, that might be the death of a spouse, or of a child, or of a parent, an act of violence committed against you, etc. Think back, now: What were your thoughts toward God at that difficult time in your life? Did you pray? If so, how? With tears? With anger? With a broken and contrite heart?

That is the place to which the book of Habakkuk brings us at the end of chapter three. How do you exercise faith in God during the worst of times? Habakkuk shares with us two things that he did, even when he was facing the worst calamity of his lifetime. Let’s look at these closing verses together and see what we can learn for the strengthening of our own faith.

1. Wait patiently for God, even when you are afraid: Look at verse 16: “I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.”
   God had told Habakkuk about the coming invasion by the Babylonians. There was no stopping that. It was going to happen. God had described the arrogance, violence, and cruelty of these invaders in chilling detail. He also told Habakkuk about the great and awesome judgments he would bring upon Babylon and indeed upon all the nations of the earth that refuse to submit to God. Habakkuk was terrified at what will soon take place and his fear affected him on a deep and even physical level. But in all this, he chooses to wait patiently for God.
   God promises to give you his peace when you give him your worries and fears. Philippians 4:6-7 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” It’s the best trade you will ever find – your worries and fears for his peace.
   
2. Choose to rejoice in God, even when everything in life goes wrong: Look at verses 17-18. Remember, the economy of Judah at this time was based almost exclusively on agriculture and livestock. And agriculture could be divided into permanent crops – fruit trees, olive trees, grape vines – and annual field crops, like wheat and barley. According to this verse, what parts of this economy have failed? All the permanent crops, all annual crops and all their livestock were dead.
   It is easy to trust in God when the fig tree is budding and there are grapes on the vines. It is easy to trust God when the olive crop succeeds and the fields are producing food. It is easy to trust God when you have plenty of sheep and cattle in reserve. But are you really trusting in God at those times? Or are you merely trusting in the things that you have?
   Habakkuk says, “Though you have no visible hope for the future, and what you were trusting in the present has let you down, and you have no reserves from the past to fall back on, still rejoice in the Lord, still be joyful in God.” Why? Because He is God your Saviour. He has promised to deliver you in his time, and he has never let the righteous fall. Paul says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

CONCLUSION
What are you going through today? Does it seem like your world is falling apart? Know this: You don’t choose what you go through, but you can choose how you go through it. Choose joy, and know that God is good, just and merciful. No matter what you face, you can choose to say, “Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord… the God of my salvation”.

PRAYER
Help me Lord to live by faith and be able to rejoice in you even in the worst of situations. Amen.