In the midst of trials. disappointments, challenging circumstances, what do we do , how do we repond as believers in Christ.
Habbakkuk faced such challenging times. For many years, inspite of God warnings through the phophets, that Jacob and Jerusalem should repent of their sins and turn to God , they continued in rebellion against God's commands.
God revealed to Habbukkur , what he is about to do. God was going to used the wicked nation of the Babylonians to punish Jacob for their disobedience and unfaithfulness. He said that the Babylonians would later, be punished for their wickednesses and pride.
Habbakkur after hearing what God is about to do , decided to rejoices in the Lord , for his unfailing love and faithfulness to Judah is the midst of famine, plague and sword used by God as punishment against Judah . "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 exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!
As Christians, we are called to rejoice in our afflictions, to pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. For this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. As Pauls words says " we should rejoice and we should always rejoice in whatever circusmtance, good or bad we find ourselves
We are called as Christians to persevere in the midst of temptations, trials and challenging situations. Paul wrote "We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces persevarance: persevarance, produces strong characterin us; and character leads to us having hope. And our living hope in living lord does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the holy spirit, God has given us.
So as Christains, in these trying times , we are all experiencing, we should rejoices in the Lord always, knowing that God is our strength, refuge and he has become our salvation.