Learning from Habakkuk

In my infinite wisdom recently I told a friend who was wanting recommendations for a new book of the bible to read that they should read Habakkuk. After all it's one of the so-called "minor prophets" and yet I found the book very powerful the previous times I had read it. With this is the back of my mind, I realized I should go back to the book, because it feels as pertinent now as it ever was.

Why do I like Habakkuk? After all it's only 3 chapters, and yet those 3 chapters are powerful because of the way it's set-up. Really it's like Habakkuk is having a one-on-one conversation with God. He raises multiple complaints and each time the Lord comes with an answer for him. Finally, the conversation ends with Habakkuk rejoicing in the Lord and Who He is. It's a wonderful evolution we get to see working in the prophet.

Too bad we can't talk to God like that. That would be nice... And yet we can thanks to prayer, but I don't always maintain this conversation. It's seem like there are days that I go off grid in a sense. Really this should be a never ending conversation and never one-sided.

I love how Habakkuk opens his plea to God: "O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?" Does he sound like a complainer or maybe even a little annoyed? Maybe, but to me Habakkuk sounds human, like me.

I too have similar questions that have been going through my mind. Lord where are you in some of my relationships? Lord where are you in the midst of my future plans? Lord where are you in this person's life? Lord why did this have to happen to me? Lord where are you in my day to day rhythms? All these types of thoughts crop up, because they relate to where I'm at. When I look at Habakkuk, he's bemoaning the fact that the enemy is prevailing and the wicked seem to be getting away with their evil. It sounds like he has a lot more to complain about than me. And yet I especially loved one of the responses God gives: "For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."

There is so much more to this conversation, but the important part is that it ends with Habakkuk maintaining his faith in the Lord. It's not that everything will be nice and rosy, because Habakkuk is wise enough to know that will never be the case. It's in spite of the trouble of life that he responds rejoicing with great joy, because he understands that God is worthy of it.

So though I may not know why my relationships are one way or another, or why something happens to someone I love, I can still praise my Heavenly Father anyways. I want this conversation never to end, because I desperately need it. I need someone to listen to my cries, someone to respond when no one else can or will. Because God does respond, just not in the ways we expect. Sometimes he comes in the whisper not the great storm. We simply have to be prepared to listen.