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.

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

DEVOTION

Habakkuk is one of my favorite books of the Bible. This small, powerful book is found at the end of the Old Testament smack in the middle of the other minor prophets, and it is like no other book. It’s an inside look at Habakkuk's faith. 

Habakkuk begins his journey by questioning God, and he ends his journey worshipping God with a beautiful hymn. He is not writing to a people group on behalf of God or petitioning God on behalf of a people group. No, this is an intimate “prayer closet” moment, and we have a front-row seat!

The text I’m highlighting above closes the hymn (I encourage you to read the entire book as I’m focusing on these short verses only). Habakkuk is outlining a dire situation. The items he calls out have some symbolic significance. 

The fig tree was a sign of prosperity, usually one per family as they were able. No fruit on the vine means no wine, now or next season. No olives mean no oil, no cooking, no light. Fields have no food, so the staples are gone, no wheat or barley. Flocks are gone, so no clothing. And livestock is gone, so no animals to work the field to produce a future harvest. There’s disappointment, inconveniences, starvation, exposure to the elements, and an end to any future production or hope of recovery.

“Yet ...”

A powerful word interrupts Habakkuk’s thoughts. “... YET I will rejoice in the Lord.” A couple of things to note at this stage in the book: 

Habakkuk’s circumstances have not changed. Spoiler: The Babylonians are coming and it’s not good for God’s people. And…

We do not know the timeline from chapter one’s line of questioning to chapter three’s hymn. The book does not give us those specific details, and I think that’s interesting.

I’m not sure if you’re like me, but I have wrestled with trusting God. I’ve questioned him, and I’m sure I’ve been resistant to worship at times. Habakkuk reminds me that the journey from questioning to worshiping God can be a three-day or a three-decade process and the takeaway is the same: Pray Yet.

Habakkuk is praying for the ability to rejoice in the Lord when it does not make sense. Look at verse 19: “God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”

Crawling our way out of the valley takes sure footing. The visual Habakkuk is giving us is like an ibex, pictured at the top of this devotion. The dexterity and ability to maneuver on slivers of rock to higher ground would be a marvel to witness in person. 

As believers, we look like that ibex when we follow Jesus and trust him in everything: the chaos of political issues, pandemic discussions, or conflicts. Like Habakkuk, we trust him and turn to worship instead. The world would marvel at how we trust and worship in conflict, but it’s only by finding joy and placing hope in Jesus Christ that we find our sure footing.

Matt Cartwright 

Pastor of Communications

mcartwright@crossings.church

Matt Cartwright is Pastor, Director of Communications, and teaches Sunday School at Crossings Community Church.

RESOURCES

• Build a Life That Matters series
• Terry Feix Sermon Message: “How Can We Trust God When Life is Going Wrong?”
• "Goodness of God" - Edmond Worship