
There is a little book towards the back of the Old Testament that is called Habakkuk. It was written around the year 605 B.C. by a prophet who was named Habakkuk. He lived at the same time as the prophet Jeremiah. He was a person of deep faith.
A couple of verses at the end of the small book can really speak to us in days that we face uncertainty.
“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 go on the heights.” (3: 17-19)
Even in times of great economic uncertainty, Habakkuk had faith in God, and was still able to rejoice.
Maybe someone reading these words today is facing a time of uncertainty. Perhaps there is anxiety and fear. Perhaps the fig tree is not budding and no grapes can be found on the vines.
Sometimes there are no easy answers. No simple solutions. But let me encourage you to read again the ancient words of Habakkuk. Read them slowly. Maybe even out loud. What is God saying to you this day?
I pray that God will help us to have the faith of somebody who lived so many years ago and to proclaim, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.”