How long

I’ve been reading through the Bible for…well let’s just say it’s taken more than a year. I turned to a short book in the Old Testament, Habakkuk. I’m trying to be more purposeful with my readings lately. Instead of rushing through and checking the box I decided to ask God to show me what I’m supposed to see as I read and to show me Jesus.

Habakkuk starts off with a question many of us ask or have asked: “How long, O Lord, must I call for help” (vs 2a) The prophet is struck by all the deception, wrong doings, wickedness, brokenness around him. He thinks, as I am prone to do – wouldn’t now be a good time for You to act Lord?

We have lots of ideas for Him: how about bringing a loved one to salvation now? Healing us or a loved one from cancer? Giving a marriage proposal or a pregnancy long waited for? A job or financial turn before everything is lost? Even, can’t Jesus just come back now?

God speaks to Habakkuk and tells him He is indeed going to do things that will amaze him. But the prophet thinks it’s taking an awfully long time and again asks God why He tolerates all these things and basically says ‘I guess I’ll wait and see what God is gonna do’ – sigh.

That’s me. I fuss. I fret. I worry. I sometimes try to help. Then I sigh.

Again, the Lord responds to Habakkuk in great detail. And this time Habakkuk decides to pray instead of question. What a concept, right? A friend reminded me today that we so often just keep going when in a matter of a few minutes we can connect with the Almighty.

God delights in our heartfelt prayers. As Habakkuk prayed, He recalled the awesome deeds of the Lord. He acknowledged there is no other God and no other power greater than God. And then…the calm.

The verses ending this short book come from a heart calmed by a loving Father: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,” (vs17) In other words: though sickness and death still happen, financial ruin still comes, marriages end in divorce, fill in the blank ________. “yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength;” (vs18-19a) Habakkuk has found the answer to His first question: How long? As long as it takes and in the blink of an eye – both are the same to the Lord, but He knows which one is best for us and all those we love. Yet, we will rejoice!

(verses from NIV)