Women’s Ministry
In the middle of this COVID-19 pandemic, have you asked God why or for how long? Do you long for the God who sees all to comfort and give you specific direction for these uncertain days? God called a prophet named Habakkuk to pen a book to be read by us in April of 2020.
I was recently reading Habakkuk, when verse 3:5 jumped off the page as if to describe the COVID-19 trial we now face.
‘Before Him (God) went pestilence,
And fever followed at His (God’s) feet.’ Habakkuk 3:5
God is in control of all circumstances including pandemic pestilence followed by a fever. Earlier in the book of Habakkuk the prophet does not understand how God is letting Judah get away with their sin and misrepresentation of God. He wants judgement. God’s people in Judah made up their own rules and religion and embraced everything much like our world today does in the name of tolerance. In Chapter 1, Habakkuk calls out to God and God responds for him to wait and watch to see what He (God) will do. It is sometimes difficult to put our mind around the fact that God allows difficult circumstances in our lives. Often, we are changed for the better from having endured in faith.
If you are struggling as Habakkuk did with your faith, let God know as Habakkuk did. Ask him why I cannot not work; why can I not assemble, why is my bank account and pantry empty, why… and how long God will this last?
God tells Habakkuk in 1:5 the following
‘I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you.’
Have the confident expectation that God is working today in this COVID-19 pandemic. His plan is good, and we will be amazed at what the Hand of God is doing for his people. Also, do what Habakkuk himself did when he says in 2:1 that he will stand and watch to see what God will say to him. May we now stand and watch to hear from God. We need to separate ourselves from the distractions (endless COVID-19 news updates) and listen for the voice of the Lord.
In Habakkuk 3 the prophet is praying for God’s mercy, and he acknowledges that he doesn’t understand all of God’s ways. He starts verse 17 of Chapter 3 with the word ‘Though’ and repeats ‘Though’ three times.
‘Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls ‘ Hab 3:17
What are the ‘Though’ you would declare for August 2020?
- Though my country does not follow God.
- Though there is no fruit in my life.
- Though everything I attempt fails.
- Though I don’t have funds to pay the bills.
- Though my employer has furloughed me.
- Though I have lost friends and family.
- Though I am in a difficult marriage or not married.
- Though ______________________
Despite difficult conditions, Habakkuk says ‘Yet’:
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s [feet],
And He will make me walk on my high hills. Habakkuk 3:19
Habakkuk chose to rejoice in the Lord he trusted regardless of the trouble all around him. The Lord would give him strength to face the difficult days ahead. God would do even more than just provide strength; He would make his feet like deer’s feet. We used to own a vacation home in Hidden Valley Lake CA. I would get excited to watch deer out the windows. They were confidently sure footed despite hilly terrain and quick on their feet to escape danger. Deer would stay in groups and all walk on narrow worn paths. Can we do the same?
Chose to rejoice in the Lord for He has saved you. He will give you strength and make your faith sure footed and quick to glorify the Lord. Stay on God’s high hill and watch to see what He will do.