“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.” Habakkuk 3:16
“I know that God is good. He has a plan, and all will be made right in His time. But, today, in this season, I struggle to believe what I know in my heart to be true about God.”
In an authentic and raw moment, my friend shared her current wrestling with God with our accountability group. As soon as the words left her lips, she apologized for her full transparency and stressed that she was frustrated, but her faith was fully intact.
“You don’t need to apologize, I get it.”
“Yes, I’ve been there; I know exactly what you are going through.”
“I am just thankful that someone else feels that way sometimes, too. I worry that I am a bad Christian because I question God when I can’t see Him at work.”
My friend’s embarrassment quickly subsided. The confessions from the other ladies in our group comforted her; she wasn’t alone in her struggle. Here was a group of godly women whose faith is grounded in Scripture yet still have moments of doubt and uncertainty.
Almost at the end of the Old Testament, we find the book of Habakkuk. With only three chapters, we could quickly look over the Scripture where we see a man struggling with the question: Why is God allowing evil to prevail?” We don’t know much about the prophet Habakkuk, of which the book is named, except that God appointed him to deliver messages to God’s people.
Let me provide some background to help us better understand Habakkuk and his lament before God. Things were not going well for God’s people; the Land was filled with violence and wickedness, and the Babylonians were about to come in and completely take over. To Habakkuk, it seems God turned his back on His people, allowing evil to remain unchecked. Habakkuk pleaded for God to intervene, to save His people, to judge the wicked, and wipe away the ungodly (Habakkuk 1:2-4).
Except, God’s response to Habakkuk was less than comforting. God shares that He isn’t going to intervene to save and restore His people; instead, He was going to send the Babylonians ( another wicked empire) to enslave and rule over His people. Habakkuk, and rightly so, was beyond frustrated that God would choose a group who were even less righteous than His people and cast judgment. Habakkuk opens questions and argues with God, unable to understand God’s plan.
We see in their exchange that while God allows Habakkuk to vent and question Him, God doesn’t explain or justify His actions. But it is through their back and forth that Habakkuk develops a deeper appreciation for God’s sovereignty and renews and strengthens his faith even though he doesn't have his question answered. In the last few verses, we find our key verse, Habakkuk 3:16, “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.”
Having faith doesn’t remove the reality that Habakkuk and the people around him were about to face hardship. But, having faith does help Habakkuk realize that no matter what God has planned for His people, God can be trusted, even when we don’t understand His ways. Habakkuk praised the Lord for being His Savior and strength, even in his darkest moments.
I know it's hard to praise the Lord when we are hurting, when it seems like evil wins when we’ve done all the “ right things,” and still face difficulty. We will go through valleys where we struggle to see God but know He is always at work. Despite knowing that He is working all things for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28), don't be afraid to wrestle with God like Habbakuk. Surround yourself with godly friends who can empathize with your wrestling and gently speak truth to your weary soul
Heavenly Father, we come to you with heavy hearts; there is so much evil in the world. Many of your children are overwhelmed with grief; their circumstances are dire, and they feel like they are drowning in the weight. Help us remember that You see us, care for us, and have a plan more extraordinary than anything we can imagine. We love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Laura Bailey is an author and Bible teacher who encourages women to understand what they believe, why it matters, and how to apply biblical truths to their lives. Her recent book, Embracing Eternity in the Here and Now, explores how the timeless truths of Ecclesiastes help us live more peaceful, purposeful, and plentiful lives today.
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
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