Habakkuk’s Complaint
“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not hear?
Or cry to you ‘Violence!’
and you will not save?..”
The Lord’s Answer
“Look among the nations, and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if told.”
Habakkuk’s Second Complaint
“Are you not from everlasting,
O Lord my God, my Holy One?..
“I will take my stand at my watchpost
and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me,
and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
“And the Lord answered me:
“‘Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.
For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.
“’Behold,.. the righteous shall live by his faith.'” Habakkuk 1:2,5,12; 2:1-4
“My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.” Psalm 130:6
“Thus the Lord said to me:
‘Go, set a watchman;
let him announce what he sees.
When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs,
riders on donkeys, riders on camels,
let him listen diligently,
very diligently.’
Then he who saw cried out:
‘Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord,
continually by day,
and at my post I am stationed
whole nights.'” Isaiah 21:6-8
A quick or cursory glance around us can bring confusion and unrest at what God is doing. Violence, tragedy, chaos, and sadness hold captive our emotions and distort vision, preventing us from seeing life as God sees. To take on His view, we must rise above our circumstances and the world’s view and climb up to the watchpost, to the heavenlies where an eternal perspective is possible. There we can adjust our eyes to His light and long view, settle our hearts, and wait for His perception in His time. Faith gets and keeps us there.
To assess the whole order of things in a singular moment is to deprive an occasion of setting and context. To make sweeping decisions based on immediate strain or ecstasy is to neglect reasoning for the long term. While it’s appropriate to bring current complaint to the Lord, it is resolved by listening keenly to His response, tracing His hand that’s always guided by His infallible character, and choosing an eternal perspective. He is faithful to answer over time.
When have I jumped to conclusions in a situation, claiming it wasted or without possible remedy? Where have I given up working and praying, exasperated at setbacks and deeming someone or something beyond redemption? Where am I blaming God, questioning His goodness, condemning His actions, or feeling chafed He’s not answering my way and immediately? Would I choose to articulate my angst, then patiently be still and know, by faith in who He is and how He works, that God is God, good, and will be exalted in every circumstance? (Psalm 46:1-3,8-11)
Gracious Lord, help me see life as You do with an eternal perspective, wholly trust that You are working all for Your ultimate glory and good. (Romans 8:28)
As the rain and snow 