Small Word, Big Promise

This week we want to deal with the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk. Not that much is known about him, but one thing is certain: He was a man who was upset by all the injustice in the world. He was a man who cried out to God for help and knew what it was like when God did not answer right away. Nevertheless, he was a man who continued to believe and trust his God! Reason enough to want to learn from him! Let's go!

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls..." (Habakkuk 3:17 NIV)

What a sad verse! What a frustrating situation! All Habakkuk longed for has come to nothing. No fruit, no oil, no sheep or cattle. Despite all his investment, despite all his hard work, there are no positive results. Nothing. Just nothing.

Have you ever felt this way?

The verse might read like this in your life today, "As yet my labor bears no fruit, and I cannot live on my self-sufficiency. As yet, in spite of all my prayers, I have not yet experienced my miracle, and although I have walked the straight path of obedience, God has not yet shown me that He blesses this decision. As yet my heart is empty...."

Do you notice a key word that appears in the Bible verse as well as in my personalized version? There’s a little word with big power: YET. Habakkuk adds a little word, but a powerful one, to his painful story: "Nothing is yet to be seen," which also means that he believes it will be seen eventually!

And he chooses, in the midst of his waiting, to do what pleases God! It simply underlines his faith, his trust. He says:

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Habakkuk 3:18 NIV)

While you long for the miracle, God longs for you!

What are you waiting for? What does your "nothing yet” stand for? May I encourage you to also say, sing, pray today: “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Habakkuk 3:18 NIV)

Let's pray together, "Jesus, I still wonder if all my investment is worth it. Whether it all still makes sense. And yet I want to trust You and rejoice that it will come, because You are God, and because everything is possible with You! Thank You that You know my situation, that You see it and will help me! Amen."

You are a miracle!

Déborah

P.S. The texts of this reading come from the daily email A Miracle Every Day. If you would like to receive a daily encouragement, I invite you to subscribe to A Miracle Every Day.