Today’s Encouragement is Habakkuk 3:17-18 NLT “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!”
Yet I will rejoice-
Several wonderful passages encourage us to continue to rejoice, be joyful in our God, despite the difficult, even painful, sometimes hopeless, circumstances we are facing. Job said after losing everything he had…Job 1:21b NLT “The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” And James 1:2 NLT “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
Great joy when we have troubles? “I’ve lost everything, and I’m supposed to praise God?” “There’s no hope, no way out of this terrible circumstance, and YET I’m supposed to be joyful and rejoicing in God?”
Yes! My friends this is exactly what the Bible repeats many times.
Why?
Because our joy, our peace, our security, our provision, our contentment, and our JOY, is found only in Christ! His Grace, Mercy, and Love… this is our Joy… eternal hope of life with Him! We have every reason- in Him alone- to rejoice!
Father, we know we can do all things through Christ! Help us to rejoice always, even when we are in the midst of our troubles, because You are still God! Jesus is still our Savior! We are still Loved by You!
Shout for Joy
Paul Baloche
Today’s Encouragement 