Social-distancing. Virtual learning. Maskne. This is our new vocabulary courtesy of 2020!
Our world from 2019 is turned upside-down. Socializing, school schedules, even facial care routines have all been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many in society are unsure about job stability, personal finances, and when our world will ever recover!
We are not alone in our feelings or frustrations. Habakkuk too, knew about living in despairing uncertainty.
He knew about exhausting his patience, waiting for this to be over.
He too questioned, how long, Lord and why?
He also looked at the world around him, faltering in fear, not fathoming how his shattered reality would ever be reassembled.
Yet, he learned three truths that shaped how he chose to assess his plight:
- We need to fear God. (Hab 2:20, HCSB)
- We need to live by faith. (Hab 2:4b)
- God will save His people. (Hab 3:13)
Just as Habakkuk stood awestruck as actions and reactions astonished him, we too can rightfully remember what we need to fear is God. Period.
We respect Him, submit to Him, wait on Him, and Him alone.
When we fear God, we then live by faith. We try to follow God’s commands as we respect Him. We can cast out fear, moment by moment.
We learn to lean on God, claiming His promises. Habakkuk learned God saves His people. As we too, learn to do life with the Lord, we learn He saves us. He rescues using methods and manners which may surprise us; but we can rest assured He will save us.
As we strive to to do daily life during this pandemic, gazing around at a world we no longer know; may these truths help grow our faith so we don’t simply survive, but we learn to thrive.
Thrive by faith.
As we learn to thrive, may we joyfully pray: Dear Lord, although this world is now unfamiliar to me, “Yet I will triumph in Yahweh; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Yahweh my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!” (Hab 3:18-19) Thank You, that You provide all I need for today, yes, even a day during a pandemic! In Jesus’ name, Amen.