There is a little book toward 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 these days that we face such 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 turmoil, Habakkuk had faith in God, and was still able to rejoice.
We are certainly living in times of great uncertainty. Maybe someone reading these words today is facing a time of personal stress. 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. May it be the Word of God for us today. Let’s proclaim, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.”