...Yet I Will Rejoice in Thee!

I'm intrigued by crumbling buildings.  I know this place once had a life and there's history still lodged within its frame -- I just wonder what once went on within its walls.  I saw this particular ruin in the Mohave Desert in the once thriving desert town of Kelso, California. 

I'm using this photo to represent desolation and ruin and offer a picture of sorts for a message in Habakkuk.  These verses appear as the theme for the latest book I'm writing, called, "Ordinary Women Experience Extraordinary God."  This is taken from the book's first section:

I was reading through the book of Habakkuk one day when I discovered one of scriptures hidden gems.  I refer to it as "hidden," because I don't remember ever seeing or hearing about this verse and Habakkuk is not exactly a frequently-quoted book.  As soon as I read this passage, I was stunned by its powerful message. 

 

"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

-- yet --

I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer's feet,

and He will make me walk on my high hills" 3:17-19

 

Bad things happen to good people every day of every week.  We know this, but it's still a hard truth to accept when blows seem to come one after another with increasing frequency -- yet -- that word right there in the middle of a verse that begins with a litany of sorrowful events changes everything and ends with amazing joyful hallelujahs and glorifying of our great God.

 

This then is what God desires from His children -- to praise Him in spite of our circumstances.  It's easy to praise God when things are good, but when dark times come and we still raise our voices in praise, that's when the greatest victory is won.  That's where the true power of God and testimony of a Christian is seen by the world -- and by Satan and his cohorts as well.  That's when the light of God shines through the darkness and fills the trusting heart with hope.  And, that's when God is truly praised for Who He is and not for what He's done for us. 

 

 How amazing when we can say - in spite of all the difficulty surrounding us  - "...yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior" Habakkuk 3:18.