Habakkuk lived in a time with a lot of challenges where it seemed like God was either not present or not loving. But yet, he chose to rejoice as he sang, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will REJOICE in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” Hab. 3:17-18 Even when the circumstances of God’s people seemed dire (and it was), Habakkuk chose to rejoice in the Lord.
This takes me to a time when my 5-1/2 month old son died of SIDS. No explanation, no signs, no perceivable reason. Did I ask God why He took my son from our family? Yes! But honestly, if God Himself came down to tell me all the good things He was going to do because of Bobby’s death, it wouldn’t have made sense to me or been a good enough reason in my mind’s eye, my fiercely protective mother’s reasoning. I had to choose, like Habakkuk, to rejoice. I still do when the grief sneaks upon me, as it does even 29+ years later.
Even though my son died unexpectedly, even though I lived most parent’s worst nightmare/fear; even though I wasn’t able to have any other children after him because of secondary infertility; even though God allowed this to happen in my life, I chose, and still choose, to REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS!
God has shown me that I do not need to understand because His ways are not my ways. I just need to trust He has a perfect plan and allow Him to use my “even though” for good and His glory.
As Paul says in Romans 15:13, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you (me) completely with joy and peace because you (I) trust in Him. Then you (I) will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
So, through the power/help of the Holy Spirit, today I choose to REJOICE!
Contributed by Molinda Hern