“Even without fig blossoms or new grapes, along with olive crop failure, barren fields, and livestock tragedy—nevertheless, I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer able to tread upon the heights” (Hab.3:17-19).
Heavenly Father, here are so many different, difficult storylines represented among those who receive these daily gospel-encouragements and prayer-o-grams. We don’t know how you do it, we’re just glad you know us by name, love each of us as much as you love Jesus, and will finish the work you have begun in us (Phil.1:6) and in all creation (Rev.21:1-22:5). Hallelujah and thank you.
Abba, whatever our heartache or body-ache, longstanding trauma or emerging fear—by faith, we make Habakkuk’s prayer our own. Not as stiff-lip stoics but as grateful worshippers; not as those in denial but as those who are in Christ; not with passive resignation but with active adoration—we declare our trust in you and our love for you.
We are rooted in your love and standing in your grace—the surest footing imaginable. Deer can climb high mountains, but you’ve seated us in the heavenly places in Jesus—and from that height, a whole bunch of “stuff” gets put into the perspective of eternity.
Our earthly life might not turn out as we dreamed, but nothing you’ve planned for us in eternity will fail to happen. Our kids might not rise up and call us “Magnificent Mom” or “Dang-Best-Dad,” but you love and care for them more than we do. Our basketball team might not “dance” in March Madness, but we already dance with eternal gladness on the dancefloor of the Gospel (Luke 15:22-25). Our traumas may seem to outnumber our triumphs, but because Jesus has triumphed over all sin, darkness, and evil Col.2:15), we do rest and rejoice.
Indeed, storms will come, but we’ll never experience a Jesus-absent storm. We may suffer different kinds of “separation” in life, but we’ll never be separated from your love. A Day IS coming when we will never again pray-out or cry-out, “How long, O Lord?” Hallelujah, and So Very Amen.
