A Right Attitude in Wrong Times

Tucked away in a little book of the Old Testament is one of the greatest praises to God that has been recorded and preserved for us.  It is found in the tiny book of Habakkuk.  Though Habakkuk is not “required reading” for most Christians, the message of this book is “required living” and it speaks to all of us at some times in our lives.  There are inevitably times when things are going wrong.  There are times when the circumstances and situations of our lives give the appearance that God is disengaged or even weak.  But that is never true.  For us, a right attitude in wrong times is important.

In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet Habakkuk cries out to God asking why God is allowing violence and injustice to reign in his country of Judah while the righteous suffer.  God then says to Habakkuk that He is going to bring judgment on the land of Judah by using a band of vicious, wicked raiders, the Babylonians.  But Habakkuk doesn’t understand this.  Why would God use wicked people to judge wicked people?  It seems that God is wrong.  But alas, God is never wrong.  God is always right.  God has a plan and it’s not up to us to understand the plan but to accept it and to have the right attitude during the times when things seem to be going wrong.  At the end of the dialogue that Habakkuk has with God, he pens these fantastic words:  Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

These are words that reflect a change.  As one writer put it…”Worry is transformed into worship.  Fear turns to faith. Terror becomes trust.  Hang-ups are resolved with hope.  Anguish melts into adoration.”  When Habbakuk screams out the question “why?” God answers with Himself.  The answer to the question “Why?” is simply “God”.  This was true over 2,500 years ago for Habakkuk and it is true for us today.  When no fruit is on the vine, I will rejoice in the Lord.  When there is no herd in the stalls, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  When there is no money in the bank, I will rejoice in the Lord.  When there is no job on the horizon, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.  When the doctor says, “cancer”, I will trust in my God.  If you are in a “wrong time” right now, please turn to God.  As God did with Habakkuk, God will change our attitudes from despair to hope.  You can have a right attitude in the wrong times because you serve a great God!

My prayer for you is that you have a great day…perhaps this word from Habakkuk needs to be shared with someone you know today?