Trust in
God
The prophet Habakkuk lived in days when horrible atrocities were
happening in his nation. The evil he had previously witnessed would be mild
compared to the horror the Babylonian forces would bring. Habakkuk couldn’t
understand how a pure God could allow such wrongs to occur. God reminded
Habakkuk He was in control; certainly His ways are beyond our understanding. His
response, whatever happens in the world around him, was “the just shall live
by his faith” (Hab. 2:4). When Habakkuk considers what could be the
worst-case scenario he or his people would have to face (Hab. 3:16-17), his
response would be one of joy in the Lord. “I will rejoice in the Lord, I
will joy in the God of my salvation. The
LORD God is my strength” (3:18-19).
Christians in the first century lived in days when
horrible atrocities were happening in the world in which they lived. Paul
referred to this when he reminded Timothy, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Peter
would say, “Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or
as a busybody in other people's matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a
Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter”
(1 Pet. 4:15-16). In the book of Revelation, during the time of Domitian as
Emperor of Rome, where many suffered intense persecutions, even death. The Lord
said of those who remained faithful to Him, even under such conditions, “And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,
and they did not love their lives to the death” (Rev. 12:11).
We
understand, then we have never been promised our lives would be trouble
free. We are blessed to live in this
country, but we aren’t immune to the evil, pain, and devastation that permeate
our lives, our nation, the world. The effects such things have on people’s
morale has been dramatic. How can we
deal with suffering, the potential of suffering, in one form or another? Trust
in the Lord, find your strength in Him, and live faithfully to His will each
day (Rom. 1:17).
Perhaps
all we are facing in society today is our wakeup call spiritually, as
well. May there be a spiritual renewal
in each of us that will transcend our temporal surroundings and circumstances,
which will offer hope no matter what we face in life, which assures us we can
endure anything, if we face it in the strength God supplies. Our call is that
which the Lord offered to the church in Smyrna. Whether family trials, disease,
opposition in society, whatever, trust in God, for He is greater than any of
our troubles. He is in control (Rom. 8:38-39). “Do not fear any of those
things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some
of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten
days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev.
2:10).
μαράνα θᾶ (1 Cor. 16:22)
Robert
