How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you…but you do not save? (Habakkuk 1:2, NIV 1984).
My Musings – I suspect that we’ve all felt this way at one time or another. Likely multiple times. Our circumstances may be different, and our feelings of abandonment and aloneness may vary in intensity. But the one constant is God, who is always the same and never varies. For Habakkuk it was “look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” (Habakkuk 1:5, NIV 1984). That’s the problem with us humans. We have a tendency to not believe what we are told, only what we see. “But hope that is seen is no hope at all.” (Romans 8:24, NIV 1984).
My Advice – “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31–32, NIV 1984). Whether we see it or not. But be careful about reading into “all things” what is not there.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give… (Luke 11:11–13, NIV 1984). This is how the Father “graciously give us all things.” That is “all things” that are good and necessary. The problem is what we sometimes consider good and necessary may be not good or necessary. It would certainly not be gracious of Him to give us these things.
God is not as interested in our material wealth and physical health, and He is in our heavenly rewards and spiritual growth. So, when it seems like the answer to our prayers seems like snakes and scorpions, believe what we’ve been told, not what we see. Hope for the best, because even if we do not see it, that is what our Father will give us. We just may learn a thing or two about hope and patience and as a result “be utterly amazed.“
And oh yeah, the ellipsis at the end of Luke 11:13? “The Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13, NIV 1984). When we ask Jesus into our heart, the Holy Spirit moves in as well.
The Brew Is A Musing 