More on difficulties and having faith

I just finished reading the commentary on the book of Habakkuk from our CBS workbook.

There were some profound statements made by the authors that I have to share. (Light bulb going off moment!)

With some paraphrasing ...

"Only God can sustain us through difficult days ahead, providing strength to meet each challenge. He never calls on believers to endure difficulties for which He does not supply the resources."

"The ultimate act of faith is to trust God when calamity is certain and there is no way out. But triumph comes in the form of our decision to trust in the Lord."

"Although faith cannot carry us through the immense difficulties of life because faith is powerless without the right object. The question is not "How big is my faith?" but "How big is my God?" Jesus said we only need faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain (Mat 17:20). We could sing in dark times because our eyes are not on the bleak circumstances, but on our Sovereign God."

"Our circumstances may not change, but we can."

Thank you Lord for Your revelation. May I rejoice in You always.

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD!

Spring maybe in full swing, but the pain of Winter lingers. Debts are mounting, creditor calls ringing off the hook, hurdles that seem to never end. I'm emotionaly exhausted ...

Knowing and believing that God is still with me, I still need to find JOY despite the circumstances. Yet, that seemingly simply task has eluded me for years.

But what is Joy? And how do you find it?

The following verses spoke to my heart and encouraged me ...

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vine;
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 will make me as surefooted as a deer
and bring me safely over the mountains.
- Habakkuk 3:17-19.

Even if my circumstances are not ideal, I will rejoice IN the Lord. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. I will not find joy in my circumstance, I will not find joy in material possessions, I will not find joy in the world, but I will find joy IN GOD Himself. I will look to Him for joy because He is my joy, for He has given me life everlasting. My joy should be wrapped around that truth.

And the prophet Habakkuk reveals another promise ... that the Sovereign Lord is my strength and that He will bring me safely over the mountains. Whatever circumstance I am currently facing, I should never be weary because He is the source of my strength and I can do all things through Him. He can certainly move mountains, but He can also ensure my safe passage over them.

I am determined to rest in that joy that only God can bring. I will pray for it and I will pursue it. And I know that the Lord will be faithful.