We recently studied the Book of Habakkuk at our church.  It’s a short book, but just like all the scriptures, it teaches a powerful lesson.  It starts with Habakkuk questioning God and asking Him why He is allowing the enemy to come so powerfully against God’s people. 

The basic truth is that God can allow whatever He wants.  He can use the wicked to fulfill His will. And although we often don’t understand, God knows exactly how to use bad things to accomplish His ultimate purpose.  The Book ends with Habakkuk vowing that come what may, God is worthy to be praised and deserves our whole-hearted devotion and trust.

We, as a church and as individuals, prayed for that same type of submissive attitude. We prayed that we may humbly, and even gratefully, accept whatever God sovereignly ordains or allows to occur, and to always continue praising Him. No matter what.

So, I boldly make the statement that we are getting what we prayed for. 

Please don’t misunderstand what I mean.  I am not saying we prayed for a pandemic.  I am not being sarcastic or mean.  I am saying we have the awesome opportunity to trust God in this uncertain time.  We have the privilege to praise Him openly for His faithfulness to provide.  And we have the time to focus on how He is moving in the midst of trial to bring us to a place of complete trust in Him.  My one question is, are we doing these things?

No one knows what the next couple of months holds for our country.  Our daily lives have been interrupted and may become even more so before things return to whatever was considered normal.  Fear is running rampant, fueled by the readily accessible news, 24/7.  Most have more time on their hands at home, without all of the busyness our packed schedules contained.  No after school activities, no casual meals out at restaurants, no leisurely shopping, no church services. 

How are we using that time?  Are we spending more time in prayer?  More time in God’s Word?

I miss our church services, but it also needs to teach us this truth.  As much as I love the worship music when we gather together, we don’t have to be in a group to worship.  In fact, I think that as much as we often desire to have one on one attention from someone we love, our Heavenly Father desires our individual attention and praise as well.  We can worship Him fully, uninhibited, not worrying what others are thinking, when we are worshipping Him all alone.

Our Pastor if full of the Holy Spirit and rightly divides God’s Word to us.  But aren’t we all, as believers, filled with the Holy Spirit?  We need to remember and learn that it’s so very important for us to study God’s Word, allowing the Spirit to teach us individually.  Yes, we should hunger for God’s Word to be preached and taught to us. But if the only time we are getting fed is when we are listening to someone else share what God is leading them to say, then we will be malnourished.  We are to read the Word for ourselves.

The same goes for praying.  The Bible says we are to pray without ceasing.  Again, there is something wonderful about God’s people gathering together and corporately praying.  But we also, as individuals, have the right to go boldly before the throne of God.  We shouldn’t solely depend on someone praying for us; we can pray fervently on our own, for ourselves and on the behalf of others.

So, during this time when we actually have more time on our hands, are we worshipping God?  Are we being taught God’s Word through the Holy Spirit?  Are we fully engaging in private conversation with the Lord?

I believe the reason Habakkuk was able to put aside the fears of the possibilities of being overcome by the enemy was because He was speaking to the Lord personally.  He was engaging in worship and receiving a Word from the Lord.  It didn’t change what was going on in the nation, but it changed him.

As awesome as our church services are when we get together, think about this.  If we take advantage of this time to grow in our individual worship and praise of the Savior; if we dig into His Word and allow the Holy Spirit to teach and grow us; if we spend all day talking with our Savior personally, how amazing it will be when we come together again as a body.  We will come together full and overflowing instead of empty and needing to be filled. We will come already worshipping before the first song is sung. We will come eager to listen to the Word being spoken because it will echo what the Lord has told us privately.

Things are uncertain, but they don’t have to be scary.  The Lord is still on His throne.  In the world’s point of view, things may get worse before they get better.  But I will say with Habakkuk:

“Though… (fill in the blank), Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.”  Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NASB)