Habakkuk proclaims at the end of his prophecy, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Hab. 3:18).  He had seen God at work in some difficult times. In the beginning, however, he had cried out impatiently, “How long, O Lord” (1:2) lamenting, “Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.  Therefore, the law is paralyzed, and justice is perverted” (1:3).  What happened?  

In this brief book, we see that the prophet – like us – was learning to wait – “I will wait patiently” (1:16 BST – Bible Speaks Today).  He was learning to live by faith, being “transformed from an impatient prophet into a calm and expectant one” (2:4 BST).  With so much that did not make sense, he declared, “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me and what answer I am to give to this complaint” (2:1).

Now at the end of his prophecy, he responds with, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (3:18 BST).   Habakkuk was able to rejoice even though he was living through a time of devastation. “It is one thing to rejoice in our blessings; it is quite another to rejoice when blessings have been removed” (BST).  

Habakkuk’s prayer could be a model for us in the days to come.  Much of what we take for granted will be removed.  Even the church will suffer.  There will be some difficult times ahead. Could Habakkuk be expressing what we might experience in the days to come? “I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear.  My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror.  I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us” (3:16 NLT).  We may very well have to wait quietly, knowing there is little else we can do.

Habakkuk was prepared to rejoice in God no matter what happened around him. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the live crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the sheepfold and no cattle in the stalls,” he was learning rejoice, even in the midst of starvation and loss (3:17 BST).  

Habakkuk concludes by declaring, “The Sovereign Lord is my strength (3:19).  The prophet’s secret to enduring devastation was the strength he found in the Lord.  He declares that the Lord “makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the height” (3:19).  David also bore witness to the ability to move nimbly as a deer in the midst of danger (Ps. 18:33), “but whereas David composed his psalm at a time of victory, Habakkuk uses the words to express a faith which trusts God while it is still very dark” (BST). 

Like us, Habakkuk was learning to live by faith and not be sight (2:4).  This is the kind of “see through” faith that will be needed in the days to come.  I encourage every man reading this blog, to recommit today to trust Jesus more and more.  Take Paul’s words to heart: “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.  I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Phil 4:12-13 NLT).   

As we were in prayer at the end of one of our “Band of Brothers” meetings, I pictured myself falling off a pedestal.  I knew immediately what it meant: I had put myself on a spiritual pedestal as the facilitator of our group.  I was seeing myself as more spiritual than others. 

Beyond this, I was taking pride in my spiritual maturity, thinking I was a fairly transparent guy. But even in my vulnerability, I was putting my best spiritual face forward, and was fearful of what the men really thought of me. I have been struggling mightily in writing this blog, because I don’t want to admit my spiritual pride.  Paul tell us in Galatians, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.  If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself.  You are not that important. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.  For we are each responsible for our own conduct” (Gal. 6:2-5 NLT).    

It is not easy for me to expose my “dirty laundry.”  My false self, with all its ego needs, dies a slow death.  I continue to struggle with appearance rather than face the realities of my own heart. It is hard to admit that at 80 years of age, I still pose and pretend.  It seems the Lord is using a group of men as an opportunity to come face to face with spiritual pride.  Lord, help me to be a more honest man.

Paul’s words in I Cor. 3:18-20 are convicting to me:  “Let no one deceive himself.  If anyone among you thinks that he is wise is in this age, let him become a fool [discarding his worldly pretensions and acknowledging his lack of wisdom], so that he may be come [truly] wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness (absurdity, stupidity) before God: for it is written [in Scripture], [He is] the one who catches the wise and clever in their craftiness” (Amplified).  I have been deceiving myself, thinking I am wise when I should be willing to be a fool.

I confess that I have been caught in the “craftiness” of thinking myself to be wise. I am learning to deconstruct this hidden tendency. I need to heed Jesus words: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). The following prayer is helping:

Lord, help me be more willing to become a fool for Christ, because I know you love me.  I don’t have to prove my worth or be concerned about my reputation. Because I still struggle with the need for approval from other men, help me remember that my affirmation needs to continually come from you.  

I need much grace and mercy not to get caught up in comparison.  It is awful trap I want to avoid.  Give me a genuine love to walk in the shoes of other men.  I also need to dismiss any thought of how far I have progressed on my spiritual journey.  Help me remember that the journey is not a matter of achievement, but rather of being.  

Open my eyes to see false humility – which is really rooted in self-pity and self-hatred. Help me forget about appearances, and to be as genuinely honest and open about my journey with you. Guide me in remembering that your power is made perfect in my weakness (II Cor 12:9).