Rejoicing in the Midst of Problems—Two2Grow, Monday, October 19

Take a minute to read today’s text and think about what it says. Consider that this was written to an agricultural society. Had the prophet been speaking to us today, he might have said something like this:

Though the stock market falls, house prices slump, the unemployment rate soars, gas prices increase, bank accounts are empty, and 401(k)s are in the red.

In this economic disaster, the man of God decides to rejoice in the Lord. What is the basis for this seemingly odd behavior? Wouldn’t fear and panic be the most natural reactions?

If all you had were your own resources and strength, yes, then anxiety would be totally understandable. But the prophet knew that God was ready to save him. He looked to God as his source of strength. He knew that God would empower him to overcome. What looked like a mountain of problems would be under his feet.

But even before God’s help had come, he chose to rejoice in the Lord because he knew that God was faithful.

We can all know the Lord as personally as Habakkuk did. Decide today that whatever trial you are facing, whether financial, like the one described by the prophet, or something else, you will choose to rejoice in the Lord and look to Him for strength. He will help you through.

Father, thank you that you have all power and that you are ready to help me today. Help me to rejoice in you and not let the circumstances around me determine my mood. I trust that you will put all this under my feet. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD