Are We Joyful? | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” — Habakkuk 3:18
Have you ever questioned God? Maybe you’ve felt utterly confused at His way of doing things, to the point of explosive anger. It’s a helpless place to be. You think you know what’s best, what’s right, yet God seems to be allowing (appointing?) the opposite. You come to the end of your spiritual rope, the bottom of the tank, where you have nothing left. No hope. No faith. No joy.
If you’re in this place right now, my heart is with you because I know how it feels. When we come to terms with being completely out of control, there’s a knee-jerk reaction to question God. But like a steady, loving parent, He can handle our questions— our attacks even— on His authority. And He loves us no less.
It’s comforting to know that humans have been questioning God for a really long time. We see brave people throughout the Bible who aren’t afraid to ask their vulnerable, borderline rude, questions to God. One guy’s story is particularly compelling. Habakkuk, a Hebrew prophet, recorded a back-and-forth exchange between himself and God. Though the conversation happened somewhere around 600 B.C., you and I might be able to relate to it.
Habakkuk saw the corruption in the world around Him and questioned how a loving, powerful God could allow it to go on. God heard Habakkuk’s complaint and answered him. The prophet wasn’t thrilled with God’s answer and continued to ask follow-up questions. God graciously answered those as well. (Side note: the entire book of Habakkuk is only 3 chapters long. You can read the whole thing, including the “Intro” here.)
By the third and final chapter of Habakkuk’s book, the author’s tone begins to shift from resistance to acceptance. The circumstances didn’t change, but HE did. There was still corruption and wickedness all around him. There was still conflict and undesirable conditions. There was still loss, failure, disappointment and grief. But Habakkuk made a choice:
“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,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
- Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)
How did Habakkuk switch gears suddenly? The key is in the very last phrase. The English Standard Version translates it like this: “I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk took his focus off of the loss and disappointment, and made a conscious choice to remember who God is. The Lord is a God of salvation, of rescue, of deliverance. He’s a God who redeems when things go wrong, a God who shows mercy but not at the expense of justice, a God who takes what’s broken and makes it whole again.
Could our lack of joy stem from a simple case of forgetting God? As an exercise to put God’s character on center stage— and place the hardships we’re facing backstage where they belong— let’s rewrite Habakkuk 3:17-18 to fit our current life. Mine might look something like this:
“Though the house is disorganized
and there are no checkmarks on the to-do list,
though my efforts seem to fail
and loving others seems to produce no fruit,
though there is no energy left in me
and little motivation to keep trying,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Habakkuk paves the way for us to remember who God is. The Lord will redeem your painful situation, Sister, because He is a Redeemer. He will restore what’s been lost because He’s faithful. When our minds and hearts marinate in the truth of God’s character, we’re also reminded of who we are as children of God. Trusting His redemptive power makes joy possible. And in Him, we are joyful!
For Your Journal
Find It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” — Habakkuk 3:18
Fix It:
In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:
I AM Joyful
Choose Joy
Feel It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.
Dear Lord, sometimes I just don’t understand the way you do things. I have questions about how your character matches up with what I observe and experience in life. This along with the busyness and struggles of daily life seem to suck the joy right out of my heart. Help me to remember you today. Help me to put your redemptive qualities on center stage while everything else fades into the background. Spirit of God, give me strength to choose joy in the face of my circumstances. Amen!