Practice cultivating a defiant joy

 Join me for a moment as we look at the prophet Habakkuk. Habakkuk was a man that expressed to God his fears, doubts and questions that troubled him. From the first chapter of his book Habakkuk appears to be baffled by his circumstances and more importantly, by God.

The Babylonians had been on the move, leaving death and destruction in their paths and now they were set on Judah. From the very beginning of King Jehoiakim reign, his crooked, exploitative ways infected all society with corruption and injustice that spread like wildfire. God's people had been poisoned with idol worship and their hearts were inflamed with all kinds of rebellion. In their wicked and sick ways, they had forgotten God and God was going to use the despicable Babylonians to bring judgment on Judah.

God was about to do some spiritual surgery on His people and what appeared to be evil would bring about spiritual healing. Judah had been forewarned of what would happen if they turned away from God and they were about to see God's promise fulfilled.

After God addressed Habakkuk concerns and questions by telling him that the plans were fixed and Judah would be judged. The tumor of sin had to  be cut out. Habakkuk makes a stunning confession that is a lesson for us all to learn from. He said that, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, and the olive crops fail and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

The refrigerator was empty and the pantry was bare. The source of their sustenance was about to be cut off. Life as they knew it was being stripped away. Yet, Habakkuk was mustering up the faith and ability to trust and rest as he was seeing God's people wither on the vine.

He chose to rejoice when things were not adding up. The prophet's decision to praise God was not based on his current conditions, but on what he knew about God's sovereignty and the power of His lordship to redeem an evil situation as Israel's Savior.

Habakkuk's rejoicing does not center on circumstances, but on God's intent and ability to save. Like Habakkuk, our rejoicing is not a prescription but a gateway to possibility.

What if you raised your kids the best way that they could have been raised, but they walked away and never spoke to you again? What if you waited patiently for a spouse and they never came? What if you wake up one day and it seems to you that God has broken a promise you felt He had made you? Will you still trust Him? Though He slay you, will you still trust Him according to Job's account in Job 13:15?

Even if the figs and olives fail, will you trust Him? If famine spreads throughout the land, if night terrors, insomnia continues. If the side effects you are experiencing worsen or the cancer comes back, will you still trust Him?

Sweet friend it is in those very moments that we need to respond to our circumstances with praise. Don't try to abandon the battle, but fight back with praise. Our decision to rejoice matters most. For this grace given resolve to rejoice in Christ in all things is fortified in the storms of our lives, not in the calmness of the still seas.

Something beautiful resides in a faith that is not based on results.The apostle Paul instructed us in Philippians 4:4 to "rejoice always", not just when we feel like it, but defy your situation with the joy of the Lord.  You will find that as you rejoice, your attitude and outlook becomes clearer as your faith lifts you up and out of your bad circumstances. Practice cultivating a defiant joy.

Hold Fast,
-Bren