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. (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV)
As we enter into this new year of 2015, are you filled with anticipation for all that the Lord can do to give life in the midst of barrenness? Will you rejoice over all that the Lord has done for you?
2014 was a very difficult year in many ways, and I was glad to say “Good-bye” to it. I was feeling very pessimistic about the future until I spent some time in the Lord’s presence through prayer, and pondering this Scripture from Habakkuk.
It was a reminder to me that Almighty God truly can make something out of all the outward nothingness in my life. I spent significant time in the past year working toward sowing seed that would produce fruitfulness in my life. Regardless of how much effort I put into it, the year ended with not much to show for my efforts. I was very discouraged, but over recent days this Scripture has reminded me that even though I can’t see it yet, I do have reason to be hopeful about my future. I can be confident that God wants me to be successful in every area of life. If I ask God to direct my path according to His will and I follow His lead (with the help of His Holy Spirit working within me), I can be sure that He will lead me to the place I need to be at the exact right time. I need to “live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7)
For years I have lived by faith, but for a season, I was distracted by my circumstances. I’ve decided to recommit to living according to my faith in God, which gives me hope. I anticipate good things for my future. My life is in God’s hands, and He is the only One capable of making something out of nothing. I am not able to see the fruit that He has planned for my life to bear, but He can.
I was weighed down with anxiety while I was fixated on my surroundings instead of God, so praising Him didn’t come natural to me. I kept being reminded of the Scripture that says I should put on “a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:3) Interestingly, I started to feel better almost as soon as I decided that regardless of how my life appeared to be, God was bigger than my problems. Just because I cannot see what God is doing, doesn’t mean He isn’t doing something awesome that is greater than anything I could even imagine. When that really began to penetrate my heart and mind, praise and thanksgiving began to come naturally again. My hope and joy have been restored, even in the midst of “visible nothingness.” I feel as though I have regained my strength to persevere and overcome.
Our lives and challenges are not always the same as one another’s, but God’s ability to do above and beyond anything we can imagine, is the same for you and for me. Whatever you may be going through right now, I encourage you to praise Him in the midst of it. He will give you a strength that will astound you, as He creates something amazing out of the empty spaces in your view. Praise His Holy Name!!!
My prayer is, Thanks and Praise be to you, O Lord! Please help us to trust You and to call out to You in every situation. Please give each of us the gift of faith to see You and the hope we have in You, even when we are surrounded by things that appear negative. I am thankful that You have amazing things planned for each of us in the future. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
