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   Though there’s no fig buds, grapes, olives, sheep, or cattle… even thenI will rejoice in the Lord; I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength…” Hab. 3:17-19

 

Heavenly Father, thank you for including Habakkuk’s faith-struggle in your Word. Where did we ever get the notion that the “blessed” life was an easy life, or that the “abundant life” only contained an abundance of creature comforts and happy days?

Your Word makes this  “abundantly” clear: Between the resurrection and return of Jesus, we should expect moments—even seasons of uncontainable joy and being able to say, “I love my life”; along with the pain(s) of life in a very broken world, compelling us to cry out, “How long, O Lord?”

Two of our traveling companions as we journey Home are the mystery of “hard providence” (things that make no sense to us as your children), and a peace that transcends and bypasses all reason. It’s great when they’re both “in the car” with us at the same time. But sometimes they take turns traveling with us, and that’s not as easy or fun.

But this we know by the Gospel, and this we rest in, Sovereign Abba: You began a good work in us that you will complete. Nothing will separate us from your love, alter your perfect plan for us and your entire creation, or keep you from working in all things for our good. Hallelujah, and thank you.

So here’s our Habakkuk-like prayer. Though people fail us, healing is delayed, life seems to contradict what we know about you, grace doesn’t feel quite sufficient, or “mystery” rides shotgun with us more frequently than “peace”… even then—maybe especially then, we will collapse on Jesus, love and trust you, and long for the Day of all things new. So Very Amen.

 

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