27 Mar Yet I Will Rejoice

If you are like most Americans right now, many conversations you have will tend to be dominated by COVID-19 or COVID-19 related concerns. Even for those of us who are taking extra measures to distance ourselves not just from people but from an excess amount of mainstream media, when we look at the circumstances around us, the temptation towards fear and anxiety is strong on multiple levels. We will likely all have some days when we are doing well and some days when we feel like crying (and a good cry will help!) because we feel overwhelmed.

Because of the intense shaking that is going on all around us right now, it is even more important to make every effort to plant our hearts firmly in Christ. When we make a commitment to feed regularly on God’s Word, we will be strengthened in our faith and reminded not only of God’s presence with us now but also of His faithfulness in ages past.

In the short book of Habakkuk, the prophet asks in essence, “Where are you?” and “Why are you doing this?” Through his dialogue with God, Habakkuk makes the journey from despair to hope by recalling two things: God’s faithfulness in the past and God’s promises for the future¹. These meditations moved Habakkuk to proclaim the following well-known, poetic declaration of trust in God:

“Though the fig tree should not blossom,
    nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
    and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
    and there be no herd in the stalls,
 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
 God, the Lord, is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the deer’s;
    he makes me tread on my high places.” ~ Habakkuk 3:17-19

We could change the circumstances of fig trees and olives failing to fit our own circumstances and the essence of the passage wouldn’t change. A COVID-19 version might read like this:

“Though our public gatherings are canceled and our churches are closed, though are playgrounds are roped off and our schools are shut down, though a pandemic spreads and its full impact upon the physical and economic health of the people of our country is yet to be determined, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. I’m placing my trust in God. He makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”

How can we, like Habakkuk, rejoice in the Lord in the midst of these trials and challenges? We can remind ourselves and each other of the nature and character of our God: of his unending faithfulness and his promise-keeping nature. We can remind ourselves of His promise that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28) and that God “works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11). All things – even this.

Finally, Philippians 4:8 is a gift to us now. I like the Amplified Version: “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].“

What is lovely? Is it the beauty of blossoms emerging on cherry trees? The sunset cresting on the horizon? Let your heart fix on that gift and give thanks.

What is admirable? Is it your neighbor who is a nurse who is getting up every day and walking a hero’s walk into work? Give God thanks for him or her and ask for their protection.

What brings peace? Is it memorizing scripture, listening to classical music or taking a walk with your family? Let your heart receive these good gifts.

What is worthy of praise? God is so good to us, friends. He is worthy of praise in the midst of anything we face. He sent His own Son to die on the cross for our sins that we might have the gift of eternal life.

Psalm 73:25-26 can become our heart cry: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.“

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Placing our hope in our unchanging God, we can declare, like Habakkuk, “Yet I will rejoice! I will take joy in the God of my salvation!”

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1)I am grateful to the Gospel Transformation Bible Intro to Habakkuk for these insights into the background of the book.

© Laura M. Thomas