
“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength, he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.” Habakkuk 3:17-19
Welcoming in a new year is a good time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the year God has in store for us. Some people make New Years resolutions of things that they want to grow or change in the coming year. For about the past 6 years when we first did this in my youth group, I’ve chosen each year to focus on characteristics of Christ that I want to grow in for the year.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 is my theme verse of the year and the way I want to grow is rejoicing in all circumstances.
Read those verses again. What do you notice? I notice that it sounds like every circumstance that could go wrong, has gone wrong for Habakkuk. If these verses were written today it would probably say something like, “Though the COVID war continues, and inflation continues to rise, the hospitals are overflowing, and urgent cares are packed all day. Though this family member has died, or my friend is terminally ill with cancer. Though freedom to preach the truth of God’s word is threatened and our brothers and sisters all over the world are dying for the sake of Christ; yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength.”
I don’t know about you but this world is getting crazy. Even just this week I’ve realized how crazy things are. Circumstances are uncontrollable; they cannot be our hope. Like Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:19, if our hope is only in this life, we are the most miserable of people. But thanks be to God, who has given us eternal hope and eternal life with Him through the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-5)!
I did not plan on being in quarantine this week. I did not plan to be sick this week. I did not plan to spend my days sleeping all day instead of doing the growing list on my to do list both for work and in my personal life.
But God planned this. He knows. He sees me. He is with me. He has purposes beyond my comprehension.
Ah! What blessed peace. I can trust Him! Truly, He is my Good Shepherd. What have I to fear?
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11
Truly, we can rejoice in all circumstances knowing that Christ, the Good Shepherd, is with us. He is guiding us. He is leading us. He is growing us. He is our strength. God the Father is in control of all circumstances. Nothing catches Him by surprise. The Holy Spirit is in us, empowering us, reminding us of truth, renewing our minds.
The song “Highlands (Song of Ascent)” by Hillsong United has been one of my favorites recently and one that will continue as one of my most played this coming year I’m guessing. Here is the chorus:
“I will praise on the mountain
And I will praise you when the mountain is in my way
You’re the summit where my feet are
So I will praise You in the valleys all the same
No less God within the shadows
No less faithful when the night leads me astray
‘Cause You’re the heaven where my heart is
In the highlands and the heartache all the same.”
I believe rejoicing in all circumstances comes from trusting God and trusting God comes from knowing God. Will you join me this year in growing in intimately knowing God, that you may grow trusting Him, that you may grow to rejoice in all circumstances?
**May I just add…there is definitely a place for lament. There is a place for grief. I’m not saying don’t do those things. I am just encouraging you to always end your lamenting by looking to your loving Creator, Shepherd, and Helper, and rejoicing in the reality that one day we will be with Him face-to-face forevermore.