Hesitate and Hope

'I will stand at my watch

and station myself on the ramparts;

I will look to see what he will say to me, 

and what answer I am to give to this complaint.'

~ Habakkuk 2:1~

The book of Habakkuk is best known for the different pronunciations of its name I myself referred to it as 'hairy back' in middle school. (My youth pastor set me straight after he picked himself up from laughing.)

For those who have read through the Bible at least once, you discovered that Habakkuk was a prophet. One who was angry and frustrated with God, for His 'lack' of doing something about the wickedness sweeping the world. 

Show of hands, who has felt the same? And who, like Habakkuk, has taken their frustrations to God, demanding answers to His seeming absence? What do we sound like, what are we feeling when that desperation is spilling out, be it in tears or fists? I ask for this picture so you have something to compare when I ask you to consider Habakkuk's frustrations.

He gets them out alright; 'How long Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?' (1:2) and he continues on, naming the wrongdoings of the world- like God doesn't already have the big picture. But take note of the beginning of the second chapter... where Habakkuk plants his feet and says he will be waiting for God's answer. He expected an answer, an understanding, even with all of his anger and boiling frustration.

Bottom line, when we pray, is it with the conviction that God will answer us? Or do we just use our prayers as an outlet to complain, release some of the pressure our frustration weighs down on us? We sit through sermons reminding us that God's answer might not always be the one we're expecting and we're taught to accept that. Yet, do you accept the fact that God WILL answer? Every single time, every single request, every longing and fear? All of it, He answers. That is part of His care for us, providing solutions to our problems and questions. 

I'm not saying that everything is clear to us all the time. Even to our deaths, things won't always be clear. What does remain clear is God's provision and ultimate control over our circumstances... 

'He who did not spare His own son, but gave Him 

up for us all- how will he not also, along with Him, 

graciously give us all things?' 

- Romans 8:32