“Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe,
even if you were told”. Habakkuk 1:5
There’s no question of if God will answer your prayers. He always does. Habakkuk, disturbed by the evil surrounding him, asked God, “How long will I call for help and you don’t seem to hear?” (1:1). God gave him an answer. But it wasn’t the answer he was expecting (1:5). The all-wise God has the task of answering our prayers in a finite, human way our brains can understand. We have this great example of Habakkuk wrestling with God (that’s what his name means), distressed, disturbed, doubting, but also embracing faith in God and trusting in his sovereign, just character.
We have the task of asking (God listens to us, He is more than able and desiring to hear from us) and listening. We need to posture our hearts, minds, and bodies to hear from him, humbly waiting and keenly observing in likely and unlikely places. There are no limits to how he answers, and he will answer. That alone is enough to cause us to wonder, be astonished, amazed, and marvel at him and his ways. The fact is, as he answered Habakkuk, he is doing something, and he would not believe it if he were told. Habakkuk didn’t like the answer but it was for the good of Israel, fit into God’s plan, and was consistent with God’s character. Just because we don’t see the answer we want doesn’t mean God isn’t working. Just because we don’t like the answer we see doesn’t mean he isn’t working for the good. We might not believe it because God can do the unbelievable.
Habakkuk had struggles and questions. God wants you to come to him with every care and concern. He’s greater than them all. How are you at listening for his answers? Practice listening this week by pausing for a few minutes in God’s presence with a posture of receiving after you have shared with him your concern. Perhaps hold your hands open to the sky above. May God reveal himself to you just as he did to Habakkuk, and assure you he has everything under control.
Psalm 10:17 You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.
Psalm 66:19 But God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.
Proverbs 1:5 Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.
Proverbs 8:3 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.
By Donna Burns
