I Love this because it shows that something plain and boring, like cement, can turn into something beautiful. *
When was the last time you even opened your bible to this little book? I mean, it barely fills out 3 pages in my bible, and is only 3 chapters long, but this is where the Lord guided me just last week.
He's a prophet, we call him one of the minor prophets, and he is begging and pleading with the Lord to convict and condemn the wicked because he feels as though God is not just and that God is ignoring him.
Stop right there. Have you ever felt this? That God was ignoring you? I know I have, countless times.
So after Habakkuk's first complaint, this is what the Lord says in response;
"Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." (NLT)
Well, we know how the story goes with the rise of Babylon who takes over the Israelites. Which isn't anything like Habakkuk was expecting, but theres a huge lesson here that we can learn from.
First and foremost, even in moments that we think God is silent or not with us, we must remember that He is here and He is moving in a way that will glorify and protect His name. God hears your cries and responds to them; which is where I learned my second lesson:
Is it possible that A) God is talking in a way that I don't understand, or see, so I miss it entirely? and B) Does God constantly surprise you with what his plans are?
You see, I've been there. Many times actually, crying out to the Lord, yelling at him, asking, begging, "Lord, where are you?!" He showed himself to me in such a way that I wouldn't have believed was possible, even if someone told me. The Lord spoke in such a loud an audible voice and said: "I've been here the whole time, you just haven't been listening."
Isn't this just the truth sometimes? Maybe because we are looking for a specific answer to a specific question, or maybe because we don't slow down enough to recognize how the Lord is speaking to us, but truth be told, He is moving in ways that I wouldn't believe, even if someone told me.
This time last year (2013) I was in India for my YWAM Outreach. If someone had told me that in a year I would be where I am now (Grad school at Denver Seminary, serious girlfriend who just moved to be closer to me, Job in Youth Ministry, Morning person, etc.) I wouldn't even believe it. The Lord had a plan this whole time, and I'm just now seeing it revealed.
All this to say, if you are sitting at a computer, or on an iPhone, or iPad, or something else that connected you to this blog, and you are wondering about big life questions, just know, that God has a huge plan in your life, or your community, or in your church, or in your job, whatever it might be. If you trust in him, He will do amazing things, so crazy and so big, you wouldn't even believe it was possible if someone told you. Much like Habakkuk, it might not be what you think, or what you see as positive, but I can guarantee one thing, it is for His glory.
Chained to him,
Jeremy
He's a prophet, we call him one of the minor prophets, and he is begging and pleading with the Lord to convict and condemn the wicked because he feels as though God is not just and that God is ignoring him.
Stop right there. Have you ever felt this? That God was ignoring you? I know I have, countless times.
So after Habakkuk's first complaint, this is what the Lord says in response;
"Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." (NLT)
Well, we know how the story goes with the rise of Babylon who takes over the Israelites. Which isn't anything like Habakkuk was expecting, but theres a huge lesson here that we can learn from.
First and foremost, even in moments that we think God is silent or not with us, we must remember that He is here and He is moving in a way that will glorify and protect His name. God hears your cries and responds to them; which is where I learned my second lesson:
Is it possible that A) God is talking in a way that I don't understand, or see, so I miss it entirely? and B) Does God constantly surprise you with what his plans are?
You see, I've been there. Many times actually, crying out to the Lord, yelling at him, asking, begging, "Lord, where are you?!" He showed himself to me in such a way that I wouldn't have believed was possible, even if someone told me. The Lord spoke in such a loud an audible voice and said: "I've been here the whole time, you just haven't been listening."
Isn't this just the truth sometimes? Maybe because we are looking for a specific answer to a specific question, or maybe because we don't slow down enough to recognize how the Lord is speaking to us, but truth be told, He is moving in ways that I wouldn't believe, even if someone told me.
This time last year (2013) I was in India for my YWAM Outreach. If someone had told me that in a year I would be where I am now (Grad school at Denver Seminary, serious girlfriend who just moved to be closer to me, Job in Youth Ministry, Morning person, etc.) I wouldn't even believe it. The Lord had a plan this whole time, and I'm just now seeing it revealed.
All this to say, if you are sitting at a computer, or on an iPhone, or iPad, or something else that connected you to this blog, and you are wondering about big life questions, just know, that God has a huge plan in your life, or your community, or in your church, or in your job, whatever it might be. If you trust in him, He will do amazing things, so crazy and so big, you wouldn't even believe it was possible if someone told you. Much like Habakkuk, it might not be what you think, or what you see as positive, but I can guarantee one thing, it is for His glory.
Chained to him,
Jeremy
