Habakkuk 1:2-4 – “How long, Lord, must I cry for help?  But you do not listen!  I call out to you, “Violence!”  But you do not deliver!  ³ Why do you force me to witness injustice?  Why do you put up with wrongdoing?  Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife.  ⁴ For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out.  Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is perverted.”

My prayer is, “LORD, let Your light shine brightly, exposing all that displeases You and as a light to guide us into Your truth.”

Once again, I have a deep-seated sense of unease in my spirit.  The presence, prevalence, and promotion of wickedness are alarming.   It is as though people have lost or abandoned all sense of morality.   Our world is dark, and the darkness of that darkness is dark.  Yet, I am compelled to cry for the Light to shine.

As I began reading in Habakkuk, I could relate to the prophet’s pain and perplexity.  In Habakkuk 1:1-4, his lament is arresting.  “How long, LORD?”   I am praying, and You seem silent.   I am forced to witness evil and corruption, and You seem to be turning a blind eye to it.   The law appears toothless, and justice perverted, with the innocent abused by the wicked.  “How long, LORD?”

I can relate to that sense of perplexity.   How can God’s patience be this vast?  How low can society plunge into depravity before God’s judgment comes? 

God’s response is intriguing, challenging, and comforting.   In Habakkuk 1:5, God says (my paraphrase), ” Hey, stop whimpering as though I were impotent, unjust, or unconcerned.  Pay attention and watch!  I am about to do something in your lifetime that you won’t be able to believe or comprehend fully, even though you have been forewarned.”

The prophet’s foundation of faith and commitment revealed the confidence that God is too just to tolerate evil.  [Habakkuk 1:13]   Then, in Habakkuk 2:1, he commits himself not to abandon his post on the Wall of Watching!

God responded and said, “Write down the message so it is easy to read.  Don’t despair even if it looks like I’m not doing anything, and the message does not quickly transpire, IT WILL and will be right on time.”

In Habakkuk 3:1, the prophet’s cry has been mine.  “I’ve heard and read what You did in the past and even in our time – DO IT AGAIN!”   He concluded his prophecy, prayer, and lament with hope and confidence.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 – “When the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines; when the olive trees do not produce, and the fields yield no crops; when the sheep disappear from the pen, and there are no cattle in the stalls – I will rejoice because of the LORD; I will be happy because of the God who delivers me!  The Sovereign LORD is my source of strength.  He gives me the agility of a deer.  He enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.”

2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 gives us the key to standing firm victoriously.   We are the temple of the LORD, and He is calling us to Separation, not Isolation.   Because we have Him in our hearts and His Promises, we must cleanse ourselves or put away all that is displeasing to Him.

God’s faithfulness never fails.  He calls us to trust Him with our ALL.   Wickedness is going to continue becoming more wicked.  It is even tainting the church, BUT God’s love, mercy, and grace will prevail.  The Light is about to become so bright that nothing will be able to hide.  We will see His justice prevail and His grace abound.

Two streams are flowing simultaneously and in parallel.   Run to the Light!  God’s seeming unconcern is about to be transformed into a great shaking and awakening.  Do not stop praying!   Do not stop trusting!  Hold on to the Promises.   His Word NEVER fails.

Have a wonderfully victorious day, and be confident that God is aware, cares, and will respond!