You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are?
Into the Text
We all have been, are, or will be in this position where we ask God “Why?” Why is He allowing this thing to happen? Why is evil prevailing? Why is He seemingly not doing anything? Some might have read Habakkuk 1 and thought that a page in your journal was copied into the Bible.
The book of Habakkuk allows us to see into his prayer life. We see him ask God why, God’s response, and Habakkuk’s praise. Habakkuk quickly learns that God’s ways are higher than our own understanding. He is always at work and does what is best, whether we agree or not.
Habakkuk asks God for deliverance from the corruption within Judah. He begs God to do something, which God does. He tells Habakkuk that He is raising up the Babylonians, the evil nation, to conquer Judah. This is not the response Habakkuk was looking for, but God’s ways are better.
We can learn a lot from Habakkuk’s lament. Lament is an honest pouring out of our frustration, sadness, or even anger before God, casting all our anxiety upon him. David gives us even more examples of lament in the psalms. Lament is an important part of our prayer life. In it, God meets us where we are because He wants to hear from us. He is not a distant or uninterested God. He is sovereignly in control for our good and His glory. We can pour out our hearts to Him. He does not roll His eyes or get angry at us when we tell Him how we feel. God patiently listens to Habakkuk’s accusations against Him, and He answers.
We just have to be willing to listen to God’s response and trust Him. Can you trust God with your thoughts, worries, and questions? Talk to Him today. Even if we can’t see or understand what He’s doing, we can go to Him. We can remind ourselves that God never sleeps nor slumbers. He is always at work.
Prayer
God, I don’t always understand what you’re doing. Help me to come to you with all of my thoughts, worries, fears, and questions. Help me to listen and trust you in all that you do. Amen.