SCRIPTURE
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to tread on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19
SPOTLIGHT
You may not want to admit it, but there will probably be more than one low point in your life. In fact, there may be times when your life will be so bleak, and you will feel so lifeless yet there is no apparent reason being evident. What is going to keep you going? All you may have is the Scripture text above. It teaches you WHAT TO DO AT LIFE’S LOWEST POINT. Don’t forget to always choose joy. Let me explain.
The low points of life are often marked with doubting questions about God. Can you recall being there, and asking, “Why don’t you do something God?” Habakkuk was that low. He saw the wicked prospering, and the Godly suffering. In addition, he was overcome by the violence, injustice, strife and contention he saw in his world. When God gave Habakkuk an answer to that question, the prophet then proceeded to ask, “Why do you do it that way, God?”
Read this book yourself. Gain from the honest inquiry of this man. Gain from the answers God gives to him, for they are just as relevant today as they were when God gave them to Habakkuk.
As I watched the movie, “The Hiding Place”, I could see the Corrie Ten Boom’s low point in life was when the Nazi woman soldier beat Betsy who was Corrie’s frail innocent sister. This ignited Corrie’s rage. She could not understand why God would permit Betsy who was a loving, caring Christian, to be beaten. Corrie found herself in distress. Later she wrote, “Distress teaches some to pray; it hardens others, hardness is a defense mechanism which had, at times, it’s temptations for me also. If one cannot endure the sight of the suffering about him, he tries to build a cloak of armor about his heart, but that makes him insensitive to good influences also.” [“A Prisoner And Yet…,” Pg 29].
What will you do at life’s lowest point? Will your bleakness and lifelessness lead you to become hardened? Will your distress head you to become calloused? Will you build a cloak of armor about your heart that will make you insensitive to even good influences…God influences? Or will you choose to be joyful? What you need to know is that experiencing joy in your heart is not a natural response, but a supernatural response that results from knowing God.
You must never forget to always choose joy. Habakkuk’s lowest point in life was when he awaited the day of calamity to strike his nation from invading forces. The prophet chose to worship God, which led him to be joyful. How could he do this? Two reasons stand out in the text above.
#1. God is still present and still all powerful, even when everything in life is failing and falling apart. The fig trees and the vines were considered the noblest fruit trees of the land. The olive crops, fields, sheep and cattle, were pictures of life-giving sustenance. Habakkuk saw this as all being taken by the hostile enemy, yet he said “…yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength.” The prophet knew that God was still with him. The enemy could not capture God. God is the Lord of the universe, the Savior of mankind, Sovereign and strong. He cannot be defeated, overcome, killed, jailed or wiped out. God is eternal and all powerful even when life reaches its lowest, darkest point. Wherever you are, and whatever you are facing, you can be assured that God is present with you.
#2 God is your inexhaustible energy source. Habakkuk was declaring that God would always give him physical and emotional strength, and energy for every day when he used the words, “God my Savior… the Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights.” Currently, we use two main sources of energy. There is the exhaustible source like coal, oil, natural gas, tar sands and uranium. Then there is the indefinitely renewable source like hydroelectric, sun, wind, tides, geothermal energy, which is heat within the earth. The indefinite energy sources which have been created by God, remind you that your God is the inexhaustible energy source. There will never be any shortage of God’s love, strength, peace and help. Wherever you are, and whatever you ae facing, you can be assured God will provide for you.
Don’t forget to always choose joy. When crisis hits and the puzzle of life doesn’t seem to piece together, the best thing to do is to worship God. In life’s lowest point, worshiping God for the above stated reasons will give you a completely different perspective on the situation. You will experience joy. Paul and Silas had been beaten for their Christian faith yet in jail, they worshiped God. [Acts 16:16ff.] Job lost everything yet still worshiped God. [Job 13:15.] And don’t forget the Pilgrims when you ask the question “What’s the use?” After their first winter at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 more than 50 colonists had died. At one time only seven men were fit to carry-on. In 1620, the population was only 124, but by 1630, it almost reached 300. Just think. The whole settlement at one time had to depend on seven men. However, that number was wrong. There were seven, plus God. The reason they had come to North America was to be able to freely worship the one true living God. Like Paul, Silas and Job chose to worship, and in so doing they chose joy.
SOMETHING TO DO
Prepare now to know, WHAT TO DO AT LIFE’S LOWEST POINT. Worship your Savior, and Lord, right now, today and every day. This is your personal devotional time. In addition, regularly gather with other believers to worship your Sovereign, Savior and Lord Who is your strength. Add to all of this, times when you can listen to Christian music. This is how you choose to live a life filled with joy from God. The joy of the Lord will be your strength!
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Almighty Father God, though dark days surround me, and the end of this overwhelming time cannot be seen, though I am misunderstood by some and gossiped about by others, yet I will rejoice in You, my Lord. I will be joyful in You, my God, my Savior. I worship only You, my Sovereign Lord. You are my strength. You make my feet like the feet of a deer, and enable me to climb every mountain. Thank You for giving me joy during this low point in my life. I know that my joy comes from knowing that You are present with me, and will provide for me. AMEN!