Blessed Even in the Place of Lack

Habakkuk 3:17-18 17 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, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

In this prayer of Habakkuk, we see the prophet declaring the destruction of Israel at the hand of the Babylonian horde. As he prays he recognizes the great hand of God in bringing about the destruction as a judgment against his nation, but he also asks God for mercy in times of wrath. He understands that the invasion will result in reverberations for his people and that they may experience lack, but he is thankful nonetheless for the goodness of God. I have experienced lack in my life and I have had family members experience lack in their lives. It is truly not an experience that comes easy, but learning to rejoice even in the place of lack will get you through many a wild storm in life. One of my family members went through a severe trial with lack recently. She ended up having to go on welfare because she could not get a job adequate for taking care of her life. It was one of the deepest trials she has ever faced. For me it was also difficult because of the helplessness I felt in not being able to help her. She had monthly bills and a house that she owned that just would not sale. She could not afford to pay the mortgage and she couldn’t get rid of the house. But in the midst of all of that she kept crying out to God and indeed got much closer to the Lord as a result.

You see in the hour of our storms that running from God will not help us to overcome. We must always be aware that God is our shelter even in the greatest storms. Nothing can overwhelm us for long as we remain in him. Job faced great trials and wrestled for understanding as to why such things were occurring, but in the end it was God that saw him through his trials and blessed him even more than he had been blessed before. I sense there are coming times of lack in our culture where some of the things that we take for granted right now – like food, water, shelter and money – may not come easy for some. I sense that a collapse of the economy is coming and that many will be in the position that my family member is in currently. We must prepare our hearts and learn to rejoice in the midst of dire times. Such peace will come over you and such wonder as God provides for you and warms you very heart. God will lavish his love toward you as you go through these times. I know because this is what I have experienced in my own life and what I have witnessed in the lives of others who are totally sold out to God. May God bless you and keep you through all your storms. Except from Darren’s book Ancient Grace Interior. (Published by Good News Fellowship Ministries, Macon GA, 2014). An e-copy is available through emailing information@darrencanning.com