Habakkuk 3:17-18

New International Version

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

For Encouragement

I love the Lord. He has a unique way of bringing His querying child to reason and into a mighty chorus of trust and praise. No matter how disillusioned, perplexed, and overwhelmed by impending catastrophe, God has a way of leading His distressed child out of the gloom and darkness into His marvelous light, which brims with hope and a amazing future. That was the story of the prophet Habakkuk.

He twice questioned and probed into God’s judgment and justice (Habakkuk 1: 2-4; 12-17). God responded and revealed His aversion to wickedness and injustice in both instances (5-11; 2:2-20). He will discipline His disobedient people and judge the wicked nation He uses as His rod of discipline. The time and the form of His judgment belong to Him. Habakkuk asks God to hurry (Hab. 3:1-2). But when, in his reflective prayer, God shows Him some of His past acts of sovereign judgment—the extent of His discipline—the prophet realized how awful is the wrath of God and how devastating it could be (3-15). It stuns Habakkuk, and he trembles in horror (16).

However, God gives the prophet grace to trust in His kindness when his economy and whatever he could count on for happiness fails (17). He declares his renewed faith in a joyous song of praise to God, his Savior (18).

In like manner, though nothing is working for you, may you find grace in your heart to stand, walk, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for that is commitment!

Commitment has no “if” in its vocabulary. That is bargaining. But is God worthy of your devotion, despite your empty bank account and slumping business, or potential job loss, failing marriage, and a wayward child?

Yes! And a hundred times over, Yes!

He is all that is true and righteous. Everything else is deceptive and lacks real life. God is your only adequacy and fulfillment—He is worthy of your trust and commitment. In Him, there is no disappointment.

The Sovereign Lord is your strength—One who enables you to scale every wall of opposition with the speed of a deer on the slopes (19).