“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
yet 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.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19
What if, when we prayed about a challenging situation, for healing, or our worries to be lifted, we added to that prayer for…strength?
In this chapter of Habakkuk, his town was in despair and completely deprived. But, in the midst of fear, still Habakkuk found one thing that he could praise the Lord for. He found one positive. That was strength.As I went about my week after reading those verses I started to notice my pattern of prayer. If my back was hurting, or if I had some worries weighing me down I’d pray that the Lord would take it away or fix whatever the situation is. But, what if I asked for strength? The one thing we can count on is his strength not ours. His strength can handle what we’re facing.
Life isn’t guaranteed to be easy or convenient, but we are guaranteed to have God along with us on our journey
.I love this concept of “no matter what chaos or pain is going on, we can praise God, thank him, and delight in one thing: Strength.”
It’s comforting to me because sometimes strength is all you can praise God for. You may be asking, “Where are you going with this? “ I don’t think that when you are experiencing loss, grief, change, struggles, or pain that you always have to slap on a “silver lining sticker”: “Praise God.” “But he is still good.” “But it will work out.” We can say and acknowledge the situation is tough, trying, or hurtful but I will cling to the one thing that is constant and still present: God’s Strength.