Lord Do You Hear US?
“How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” (Habakkuk 1-4 New International Version).
Habakkuk in America?
Habakkuk? Is that you I see walking along Anystreet, USA? Who of us can relate with these lamentations? Violence, injustice, destruction, strife and conflict abounds. While it doesn’t matter where you live, especially if it is in America, then you can understand the anguish Habakkuk is feeling. Have you, like me found yourself calling out how long, Lord, must we call for your help, yet you do not listen?
But the truth is God is listening, He has a plan and it is not up to us to understand that plan or wish to change it. We are to have faith, regardless of what we might be going through at this moment, that He indeed does hear our prayers. Yes I know 2020 has brought on so much heartache and grief from loss of jobs, schools closing (or not), destruction of businesses, political conflict.
And then there is Covid
As if this wasn’t enough, we have Covid, something that has stolen the lives of so many loved ones and the reality that many more will be lost. Maybe you are like me in knowing that pain personally. For I know the feeling of loosing precious family to this horrible disease. Today, as I write this, I have multiple family members, including my son, who are suffering with it. While I do not know what the future holds for any of them, I do know and trust that my God is in control and I put my faith in Him. Does this mean I am not concerned? Not at all, I am very concerned, my human heart has me asking “but what if” but my spirit filled heart reminds me to trust the one who is in control.
The Lord answered Habakkuk with these words:
“Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a heraldb] may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; itc] will certainly come and will not delay.
God is telling Habakkuk, just as He is telling us, The revelation of His plans has an appointed time and we are to “wait for him, he will certainly come”. Our Lord sent us a Savior in His son Jesus, and though we may not feel His presence, we can rest assured He is with us, He loves us, He listens and hears us when we call out to Him.
So while these are difficult times, and none of us like waiting for our answers, remember that these are the times when we learn to lean on Him, bringing us to a closer walk with our Savior. May we have a heart like Habakkuk, in that regardless of what happens, “yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (3:18).
Though things may not be going according to our plans we need to have faith to wait upon His glorious plan to be revealed in His timing.
