A Reason to Rejoice Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 3:17 – 19

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” 

Someone once said, tough times don’t last, but tough people do. I think that the prophet Habakkuk would fit into this category. As you read through the times and seasons he was experiencing, things looked pretty bleak to say the least: The flowers were not blooming, nor was there any coming promise of figs, grapes, olives or produce. The time of draught was so painful that even some of the flocks were dying in the fields with some of the cattle barns completely empty.

We too can go through tough times, or desert seasons in our lives or even in our province or Country at times. Yet in all of these times Habakkuk gives us, ‘A Reason to Rejoice’! It is not only for the temporal blessings of this life, but it is because we know and can find strength, hope and promise in Jesus Christ our living and loving Savior and Lord.

We can be joyful in and through each and every season of life because our sins have been forgiven and we have been adopted as the daughters and sons of God because of the cross and resurrection power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We find our strength in Him to carry on and do the works that God is calling and has purposed for us to do. I love the picture that the prophet paints for us that we will have the footing of a deer, able to climb the highest heights and find the favor of the Lord to make His name known all over the earth.

It is in times such as these that we remember the words of Jesus that we are to pray asking the Father to give us today our daily bread. That we are not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come. But to trust Him for today as the riches of His grace and mercy are everything that we need to successfully see us through to the end of the race! 

Prayer Heavenly Father, it is in You today that I rejoice because of all that You have done for me through Jesus Christ my Savior and my Lord. You have promised to meet all of our needs according to Your riches and glory as we put You in first place and seek Your kingdom above all else. Fill us Lord to walk in this place of the fullness of Your provision and promise throughout all of the seasons of our lives, I pray through Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord. Amen. 

Memory Verse: Psalm 51:12“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.”