Habakuk 3:17-19 (AMP)
“Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, though the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the victorious God of my salvation! The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!”
Sometimes you can do everything right: you can seek God’s direction for every step, you can pray, you can let go and surrender everything to God, you can speak life and Word into situations, you can fast, you can love unconditionally; and, as in the verses at the end of the book of Habakuk, sometimes things still don’t work out. Sometimes that loved one still dies. Sometimes that relationship still withers and dies. As “The Message” version describes, sometimes in our lives even after we’ve obeyed God, “the cherry trees don’t blossom and the the strawberries don’t ripen”.
It is in these times, when it appears that God has failed, that He has not held up His end of the deal, that He is calling us into a deeper level of trust in Him. He is calling us to trust His sovereignty and that His ultimate plan, purpose and promise for and in our lives will prevail.
So what should our response be in these times of ambiguity or disappointment? We can joyfully praise him, take heart and gain strength. Trust that He will make us walk and make spiritual progress even in our high places of trouble, suffering and responsibility. “We can sing joyful praises to Him and turn cartwheels of joy to our Savior God. Counting on His Rule to prevail” (Habakuk 3:17-19 The Message).
When we can’t see His hand, we can trust His heart towards us. This is the type of trust The Lover of our souls desires.
