“How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen, ‘Violence is everywhere!’ I cry, but you do not come to save.” Habakkuk 1:2 NLT
We all have questions in life. In what areas of my life am I settling? What do I want my life to be like in five years? If you find yourself asking the same questions, you are not alone. We all have issues in our life. A big question for many people is, why doesn’t God seem fair?
The prophet Habakkuk asks a lot of questions and thousands of years later, we still ask similar questions. “Lord, I work harder than that guy, why is it that he gets so much more than me?”
“I follow all the rules. I am good. I’m doing everything right and I struggle. That gal over there does it wrong and she’s not nice, she’s not good and it is so easy for her!”
We begin to compare and we ask God “why are you allowing this? God, you could do something, but you don’t!” You hit a faith wall and that faith wall is absolutely crucial to you becoming who God wants you to be.
In Habakkuk, God is about to use an evil people to punish the good people. He is going to use Babylon to punish Israel. The prophet begins to see this and he cries out to God about the unfairness. Questioning God is part of the journey. One-third of the Psalms is crying out to God about unfairness and throughout scripture we see examples of righteous people suffering.
The Dip
In a popular best-selling business book, the author explains the concept of “the dip.” Every new project starts out exciting, but eventually there is a setback, or a dip. It applies to your Christian walk too. Once saved, it can be an exciting time. You read your Bible every day, talking to God, living a robust life. But then, something happens—life happens. You hit that faith wall. And you ask God, “if you are so good, why is this so bad?”
This can lead to a season of doubt. I have good news for you—you’re not alone.
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” James 1:2-3
You grow by consistently building endurance.
“So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:4
Habakkuk the prophet questions God and God answers him. “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.” Habakkuk 1:5
God’s perspective is different than yours. God tells Habakkuk to get prepared to be amazed and shocked. We see throughout the bible that a deeply devoted believer can express both questions and faith simultaneously.
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
The right way to handle the crisis, the faith wall is to simply say, “God I believe in you. I believe in you more than I believe in my intellect, more than I believe in my ability to analyze what’s going on around me. I believe in you.”
We won’t see God’s purpose and plan until we get to the other side of eternity. Embrace him even when you don’t understand. That’s how you believe.
Rock Church serves the communities of Fargo, West Fargo, and Moorhead. We meet at West Acres Cinema, Sundays at 10 am. At the Rock, you can belong before you believe.
