Today’s Encouragement is, “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!” Habakkuk 3:17-18 NLT
I Will Rejoice –
The Bible consistently reminds us to trust God, rejoice in Him, praise Him, worship Him, and remember His goodness, His faithfulness to all generations, His immeasurable Love for us, our adoption as His own people, and His abundant promises of blessing, protection, provision, and care. We can choose to listen to its teachings and focus on the truths it provides, or we can focus on what our human eyes see: the world around us, the suffering and pain, the bad news everywhere. We choose.
The passage above describes total devastation of the food supply, all livelihood wiped out. Habakkuk wrestled with hard questions earlier in his book, yet here he doesn’t demand to know “Why did You let this happen?” or decide that this is his punishment for sin. The prophet chooses to praise God, to rejoice in Him, and to be joyful.
This isn’t positive thinking, and it isn’t denial. This is facing the reality around us and still choosing to place all our hope in God.
He chose; we choose. The difficult, even depressing, circumstances are always nearby, and so is the joy of our God.
Father, thank You for giving us free will to choose to rejoice in You, “even though” things seem bad all around us. We choose to trust in You.
Trust in God
Elevation Worship
https://youtu.be/iJE4yahElBQ?is=adB9NbMVgkTx2XWX