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, [18] yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
Even though –
The prophet Habakkuk knew that disaster was coming, God revealed this to him as recounted in the earlier chapters, He begins in 1:1-4 with ‘How long, O Lord…” will evil go unpunished, before You answer my cry for help?
He is struggling to retain his faith, God hasn’t (yet) answered his prayer, the enemy is approaching, without God’s intervention, disaster is certain.
Sometimes this is our plight too. Disaster looms, enemies abound, all hope seems lost… God seems silent…
The prophet ends his book, his message to us, to all believers, with these thoughts:
When all hope is lost, when I have lost everything, when there is nothing left…
“Yet will i rejoice in the Lord!”
It often seems that our rejoicing rarely comes when we are blessed, and life is easy. But the true test of our faith, the truest measure of faith… is in our seasons of desperation. When – we’ve ‘lost it all’, ‘come to the end of ourselves’, when ‘all hope is lost.’ This is when we, in faith, can choose to continue to trust Him – even though- we see no way out.
Yet, we can choose to rejoice in Him, the God of our Salvation!
Father help us, even though we may be in very hopeless and painful circumstances, to choose to resolutely trust in You alone, to rejoice in You alone. We have, we need, no other friend.
Even when it hurts
Hillsong United
Today’s Encouragement 
Did you take a break or did I get kicked off the list?
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I can’t see any problem from my end. I sent you a test just now.
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