“Be Hopeful And Joyful; The Lord Is Your Strength!”

“Be Hopeful And Joyful; The Lord Is Your Strength!”
Habakkuk was pained by the violence of the cruel Babylonians who were in power. He complained to God raising a barrage of questions to the Lord. He asked for how long he must call for help or cry out against violence and the Lord won’t listen? He asked the Lord, “Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”
God bids his time. His response to the prophet was that he would act in his own good time, but in the meantime “the righteous will live by their faith”(2:4). This has become the foundation for Evangelical Protestant faith.
Despite the maltreatment Habakkuk raised a prayer of hope as he saw the glory of the Lord and so he concluded, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The sovereign Lord is my strength, he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights”(3:18-19).
This is a message relevant for us in a time like this. We have tasted violence and cruelty, we are experiencing evil in its true colours and like Habakkuk we may be wondering whether God has turned his face against us! However, just like the prophet, despite these evils, “yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on those invading us”(3:16).
In the midst of all these, let us hold on to our faith so that it can be reckoned to us as righteousness. When there is life, there is hope. In our weakness let us rejoice in the Lord who is our strength in times like these!
Prayer: Lord, the situation may be hopeless but I remain hopeful and joyful because you are my strength. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!