READING: Habakkuk 1-3
“But the righteous one will live by his faith.”
Habakkuk 2:4
“Why, God, aren’t You listening to my prayers? Why aren’t you responding when I cry out to You?” Have you ever prayed such a prayer (one that almost seeks contradictory . . .)?
The prophet Habakkuk prayed that prayer: “How long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you do not save?” (Hab. 1:2). Judah had become increasingly wicked again, and they were ignoring the law of God. Particularly, Habakkuk wondered why God continued to allow such injustice, unrighteousness, and wrongdoing to remain.
God’s response was simply this: He was working to bring judgment—though Habakkuk didn’t know it, and he would not fully understand the means by which God would bring it: “For I am doing something in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it” (Hab. 1:5). What God was doing was raising up the Babylonians—themselves a wretched, evil people—to be His instruments of judgment.
That move made little sense to Habakkuk, but God challenged him to trust Him. He would bring judgment on Babylon, too, but it would be in His timing: “Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late” (Hab. 2:3). In the meantime, the righteous were to live by faith—which means trusting God even when neither God’s plan nor His timing is clear. We’re to live daily with that kind of faith, too.
ACTION STEPS:
- Think about what prayers you’ve prayed, but God answered them in a way that surprised you. Be reminded that He is always right.
- If you’re facing an issue today that is challenging your faith, trust God anyway.
PRAYER: “Father, You are my strength. Help me to live by faith.”