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Habakkuk 3:17-19 – … the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength;

What I love about Scripture is that even though a shallow, self-focused “what’s-in-it-for-me” brand of Christianity has become common place today even the pulpits of Bible believing churches (where “therapy” is more sought after than Scripture), you can always count on God to cut through our personal buffet of self-pity and narcissism and just lay it out there in terms even the dullest of us can grasp.

It’s not my intention here to dogpile on you if you are having a hard time in life. Okay… let me modify that just a bit. If you are currently hosting whine-fest or a perpetual pity party, maybe I am wanting to dogpile on you a little, but it’s for your own good. What I offer you today is a good kick in your spiritual butt and the admonition to get your thinking OFF YOU and ON GOD.

On the other hand, for those folks who are truly in the “valley of life”, enduring trials, persecution and circumstances that are refining your faith through genuine fire, what I offer you today is hope and eternal perspective straight from the mouth of the Father of Mercy and Compassion. I offer you a reminder about an outlook on life that brings strength, perseverance and joy.

Joy & Strength No Matter What

Read the words of Habakuk again (emphasis mine):  “the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength;”

In modern English it might go something like this, and you have to think like a farmer whose entire life is dependent on crops and animals: “Though my trees are all dead, though my gardens are all bare, though all my food is spoiling, and my fields haven’t produced a thing… though my animals are lost and are all gone, it doesn’t change my outlook on life: I will praise God, I will have joy because I am saved, and I will draw strength to live life from God.

That kind of cuts right through all the poor-me, psychobabble, personal  “issues” we hear about today, doesn’t it?  And for those of you enduring genuine, life-altering hardship or loss (for which I have the greatest sympathy, bless your heart), can there be a more confident and concise perspective on life? Now, let’s make it even more personal with versions of this passage to fit common situations…

Money

Though the economy may be bad, though my income may be way down, even if I can’t find work, and it seems like no matter how hard I try, I can’t get ahead…. no matter if all my money and possessions are stolen and even if I am dirt poor:  I will praise God, I will have joy because I am saved, and I will draw strength to live life from God.

Relationships

Even if I am being treated poorly, and though all around people are being ugly to me… even if my own family has turned against me and I feel abandoned… even though there is not one understanding soul to be found and not one person I can turn to: I will praise God, I will have joy because I am saved, and I will draw strength to live life from God.

Marriage & Parenting

Though my kids are being difficult or even rebellious, though the difficulties of parenting never seem to end… and even if my spouse is mistreating me or making life miserable, even if I am “unhappy and unfulfilled” in my marriage (God forbid!) and current relationships:  I will praise God, I will have joy because I am saved, and I will draw strength to live life from God.

Job

Even though my job is not what I wish I was doing, even though my boss is a jerk, even though my co-workers ridicule me for my faith… and even though it seems like there is no way out of this dead end job and no hope to improve my work situation: I will praise God, I will have joy because I am saved, and I will draw strength to live life from God.

Health

Even though I’m having all sorts of health problems, even though age is catching up to me and my physical strength is slipping away, even though I’m dealing with lots of aches and pains; and even though I’m having to endure genuine and significant pain or cancer or disability or life changing loss of health:  I will praise God, I will have joy because I am saved, and I will draw strength to live life from God.  (I have a friend who has suffered total loss of physical ability and yet he lives a joyful life, honoring God and placing his hope in that soon-coming day when his body will be whole again… I’m sure he has more understanding of what I’m writing today that I may ever have)

Loss

Though my worldly possessions have been stolen from me, though my friends have been deceived into rejecting me, though my job has been taken from me, though the failing economy has robbed me of my savings,  though my family is now gone, though the wicked have robbed me of my freedoms, though Satan himself has stripped me of everything:  I will praise God, I will have joy because I am saved, and I will draw strength to live life from God.

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That kind of straight talk won’t sell books or keep “therapists” in business but it will give any Christian the hope, joy and strength we all crave to live this  difficult life as we prepare ourselves each day for that glorious moment when we will see JOY face to face (Jesus) and there will be no more loss, no more sickness, no more betrayal, no more stealing, no more persecution, no more loss, no more lack and no more sadness of ANY type.

Lord, come quickly.