Have
you ever complained to God? I think we can answer this question with a unanimous
“yes.” Complaining comes natural to us. When something isn’t right. If something
doesn’t make sense. And that’s all it takes. The complaining begins.
I read
through the book of Habakkuk yesterday. I found it quite interesting that
Habakkuk had a couple of complaints for God. God answered each of Habakkuk’s
complaints with words of encouragement.
First
Habakkuk wondered why God was allowing Israel to continue in sin without coming
to the aid of the prophet. Why God had not punished Israel for her transgressions.
God answered Habakkuk. God told Habakkuk that He was going to do something.
Something that Habakkuk would not believe even if he were told.
God
was going to allow Israel to fall to the Babylonians.
And
then Habakkuk wondered why God would allow a nation even more sinful than
Israel to overtake them. Again God answered Habakkuk. God told Habakkuk that Babylon
itself would fall.
In
the end, Israel would receive correction for sin, Babylon would no longer be a
threat to Israel, and God’s people would once again be restored.
Once
God has given His answers to Habakkuk’s complaints, Habakkuk praises God for
who He is and for what He would accomplish. Throughout his prayer, Habakkuk
showed great faith in God.
God
spoke of faith to Habakkuk in chapter 2, verse 4b (NIV). “…the righteous will live by his faith…” This verse is considered
the main teaching of this book. Faith is the essence of who we are as
Christians.
Dr.
Halley shares some insight into faith and what it means. “Faith is the ability
to feel so sure of God that, no matter how dark the day, there is no doubt as
to the outcome.”[i]
I recall
a time last year that was dark for me. I complained to God. He answered. I
shared my despair with Him. He answered. Unfortunately, they weren’t the
answers that I wanted.
Then
came the moment when I surrendered my complaints and allowed my faith to take over.
A
week into this dark period, I stood in a worship service. We sang a fairly new
song. These are the words to the chorus.
“I lift my hands to believe again,
You are my refuge, you are my
strength.
As I pour out my heart, these things I
remember;
You are faithful God forever.”[ii]
In
that moment, my faith in God brought me to the point where I could get through
the situation.
But
here’s the thing. I had to say it out loud. Sing it for others to hear. Profess
that God was my refuge and my strength.
I also
had to physically do something. I lifted my hands.
And
then I believed again.
Oh,
I have poured out my heart to God. Over and over again. But in the end, God’s
faithfulness far overshadowed my complaints. God’s faithfulness stands forever.
When my faith waivers, His faithfulness is rock solid.
Life
isn’t fair. There will be situations that we simply don’t like. However, when
we give all of our complaints to God, He will answer in His own way. Have faith
that God knows what He is doing. God has a plan. God wants to implement that
plan. If we are patient, He will do His best work in our lives.
Grace
and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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