Maybe you’re lost your job during this recession and are worried about your future.  Perhaps your business is taking on water, running in the red.  You might be wondering how you’re going to pay your mortgage.  If you’re in this category, where you feel like your back is against the wall, this post is for you.

Recently on a whim I read the book of Habakkuk in the Old Testament.  I don’t know the minor prohetic books very well, so I thought I would read a short one.  Habakkuk only has three chapters, so it is easy to get through fairly quickly.

In a nutshell, the prophet starts out in a real fit of despair.  Obviously things are going very badly for him and the Israelite society.  He starts out by saying to God, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You wil not hear?”  He has clearly been hurting for a long time…long enough to make him almost think God has turned a deaf ear to his prayers.

How long have you been crying out to God?  Does it seem like He has forgotten you?  Do you feel ignored?  Are you starting to have doubts about your faith?  Is it waivering?  Just keep reading.

In chapter 1 God responds to Habakkuk by saying, “Look among the nations and watch — Be utterly astounded!  For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.” 

In the context of the book God was talking about a particular series of historical events He would bring about.  However, in His answer He also reveals part of His character to us, and that doesn’t ever change.

The particular character trait is His ability to do far beyond what we ask or imagine, no matter how desperate our circumstances may seem.  This is important because it applies to you.  He was assuring Habakkuk that He had not abandoned Him, just as Jesus assures you He will never leave or forsake you.

Moving to the end of the book, in chapter 3 Habakkuk writes a hymn of faith that says, “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls; Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  The LORD is my strength; He wil make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills”.

In this last part of Habakkuk the prophet describes some very bleak economic circumstances.  Despite those tough times he chose to rejoice in the LORD, and looked forward to the time when God would restore his fortunes.

I really wish I could help you out with a job or make your business profitable.  It’s no picnic in my business right now either.  Nevertheless, we have something so great, beyond measure.

Just like Habakkuk, you are able to rejoice in God too, and look forward to His blessings.  They will come.  Jesus says, “Abide in me and I will abide in you”.  Don’t lose your faith.  Remember your hope, and most of all, remember the One you serve.  Be reminded of His greatness and faithfulness, just like Habakkuk was reminded during his period of despair.

Thanks for reading.

Scott

There are a staggering amount of things to teach children.  It’s really amazing as well as sometimes overwhelming.  Our kids are 10 and 4, so what each of them needs to be taught differs dramatically.  I think about teaching my kids American history, business, Spanish, sports, how to say “please’ and “thank you”, setting the table, doing chores, raking leaves, etc.

With everything we try to squeeze in, I frequently find it good to stop and make sure we’re teaching our kids what matters most, and that is the word of God and their relationship with Jesus Christ.  Let’s take a quick look at Deuteronomy chapter 6 to see how it instructs parents to teach this most important topic to their kids.

Verse 7 tells us to teach God’s word to our kids diligently.  That means teaching the Bible to our kids should be a constant focus.  In the same verse we’re told to talk of God’s word to our kids throughout the entire day. 

Does that mean God wants us to stay at home from work and read the Bible to our kids all day?  Of course not.  However, it does mean that we ought to be able to show and explain God’s word to our kids in all our daily activities.  See, God wants to be in everything we do.  He doesn’t divide our lives into Sunday and all the other days, “spiritual” and “secular”.  He sees each moment and activity as an opportunity to teach our kids about His ways.

As a reinforcement to these points we can look at verses 20-25.  We see that God expects parents to be able to explain His ways to their kids when they ask questions.

 If you’re a parent and don’t feel confident in explaining God’s word to your kids, don’t feel bad.  There’s always time to learn.  Just read part of God’s word little by little, and review it with your children.  Maybe start with the gospel of Mark.  Your kids don’t need you to be a theologian or a biblical rocket scientist.  They just need you to bring a little direction to them from God’s word.  If you commit to make that effort consistently, you can be sure God will honor it.

Thanks for reading.

Scott McClymonds