Encouragement from Phillip

With all the over-talking about COVID-19, let me point you to the Word of God for some thoughts that are much needed today.

These are uncertain times, aren’t they? The Bible records many times when the nation of Israel or Judah were in such uncertainty that they doubted they would survive. One such time was during the life time of Habakkuk. He lived through the invasion of Judah by the Babylonians. He knew the godlessness of the Kingdom of Judah and he knew they were being punished for their disobedience to the Law of Moses. Evil was simply overwhelming in his day. So, Habakkuk takes the peoples’ questions to God about “Why?”

The book ends with what I consider one of the most memorable statements of faith in God in the entire Bible. Here it is:

Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, thought 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 3:16b-18

God rarely explains the “Why?” of what he is doing. But He always encourages his people to trust him, not what they can see. It would seem to be a lesson designed for us today. We cannot see the future, but by faith we can see Him who holds the whole world and all of time in His hands. People of faith trust the loving Father more than they trust their understanding of the events around them. That sounds like a good idea for us today, doesn’t it?