“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength!…” – Habakkuk 3:17-19 NLT
Many times, we encounter seasons in our lives where we see no progress, we see no fruit bearing, we see no flowers blooming. Everything is empty and barren. It is like we are in this wilderness experience and this can be one of the most challenging experience of a believer. However, Habakkuk 3:17-19 encourages us.
This passage of scripture is so profound to me because it says even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! Even though I may not see any progress in my life, even though I don’t see how I’m going to pay for college, even though I don’t see my way out of this situation, even though my business can’t seem to get up off the ground, even though my plans keep failing, even though things aren’t the way I want them to be, even though this is not where I saw myself five years ago, yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
This is the kind of attitude we should take on, not only when life happens to us, but everyday of our lives. David said in Psalm 34:1 NLT, “I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.” We will not always have perfect days or perfect seasons. However, we must always keep a praise on our lips, learn how to rejoice in the Lord and be grateful. The song, “Be Grateful” by Walter Hawkins encourages us to be grateful no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.
“God has not promised me sunshine
That’s not the way it’s going to be
But a little rain
Mixed with God’s sunshine
A little pain
Makes me appreciate the good times
and it goes on to further say….
Be Grateful
Even through the hard times, the good times too
Be Grateful”
We must be joyful in every circumstance because God will always be our source of strength to get through these tough times. Once we learn, “yet I will rejoice”, we would find that our focus shifts off of our problems to the promises of God. The song says, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us REJOICE and be glad in it!” Every day is a day the Lord has made and no matter what we find ourselves in or where we find ourselves at each day, we are still to REJOICE and be glad in it!
Raphael R. Roker 