I heard, and I trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Rottenness entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress to come against the people invading us. Habakkuk 3:16 CSB
Why is it so hard to trust God sometimes?
• Because He doesn’t work on our
How long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you do not save? Habakkuk 1:2 CSB
Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 2 Peter 3:8 CSB
• Because He
Why do you force me to look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted. Habakkuk 1:3–4 CSB
As soon as Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and told him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died!” John 11:32 CSB
• Because His plans don’t
Are you not from eternity, Lord my God? My Holy One, you will not die. Lord, you appointed them to execute judgment; my Rock, you destined them to punish us. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do you tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are you silent while one who is wicked swallows up one who is more righteous than himself? Habakkuk 1:12–13 CSB
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8–9 CSB
• Because it seems He hasn’t
Lord, I have heard the report about you; Lord, I stand in awe of your deeds. Revive your work in these years; make it known in these years. In your wrath remember mercy! Habakkuk 3:2 CSB
God, we have heard with our ears—our ancestors have told us—the work you accomplished in their days, in days long ago … But you have rejected and humiliated us; you do not march out with our armies… . Wake up, Lord! Why are you sleeping? Get up! Don’t reject us forever! Psalm 44:1, 9, 23 CSB
In spite of all this, do we still have the
Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights! Habakkuk 3:17–19 CSB
Even if he kills me, I will hope in him. Job 13:15a CSB
You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9 CSB
Memory Verse
… Yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Habakkuk 3:18 CSB
Next Steps
• I will be honest with God about my doubts and questions like Habakkuk was.
• I will find the courage to rejoice when those doubts rise up during the storms of life.
• I will trust God, even when I don’t understand what He’s allowing in my life.