What Matters

READ: Habakkuk 1:2-5,12-17

Always be joyful (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

A warm breeze and the sweet smell of summer surrounded me as I stood near a pond. Birds chirping, shade trees, calm water—the peace of nature didn’t match the confusion inside of me.

Life doesn’t always make sense, but the apostle Paul encourages us to “always be joyful” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

This idea is repeated throughout the Bible. “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). When this instruction is stated, it often involves someone rejoicing because of something, for example, “Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because he rescues me” (Psalm 35:9).

But in Scripture, not everyone has a specific reason to rejoice. Habakkuk questioned God as to why He was allowing the unjust to go unpunished and His people to be oppressed by an enemy (Habakkuk 1:2-4,12-17). The prophet didn’t get the answers he was expecting when God said, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day” (Habakkuk 1:5).

It took a while for Habakkuk to accept this answer, but when he did, he rejoiced. “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; 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!” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

As I walked around the pond, I rejoiced in God and His beauty because I could find a joy deeper than the things I didn’t understand. He was with me, and I could feel His love surround me.

God has a plan for all of us. We can trust and rejoice in Him because of who He is and what He will do! —Julie Schwab

MORE: Read Habakkuk 2:3 and consider God’s promise in Habakkuk’s waiting.

NEXT: What do you typically do when life doesn’t seem to make sense? How can you learn to rest and rejoice in God and His plans for you?

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Personal Note:

Hello, fellow believers!

While reading this devotional, I was actually dying inside. I wanted to cry and cry and cry but I know that it will not solve the problem I am currently facing with so I end up praying.

To be honest, I got not so failing grades yet I must repeat those subjects for me to be able to continue my course, accountancy. I don't know how I will be able to tell these things to my parents or my friends because I was actually presurred to be the best.

Right now, I am asking a spare time of yours to please pray for me. Please pray that God will give me the strength, courage and faith that I badly needed right now during this kind of season.

Lastly, whatever trials we are currently facing let us find reasons to rejoice knowing that God is faithful and He will not leave us behind. He is with us and He is for us! He is our victory! He has a great plan and timetable for us. Maybe not right now but sooner or later we will understand that all things are working togethere for our good.

All the praises and glory to Him alone. Thank you so much brothers and sisters in Christ! Lovelots.

P.S. If you have any prayer request please message me. I would really love to pray for you. We all know that Christianity is not living alone, it is living and serving for others.

ThisGirlCanWrite signing off. . .