I think one of the hardest things for any believer is
watching those you love, especially your family, struggle and be distant from
the Lord.
We all have that cousin,
uncle, brother, etc. who either doesn’t know the Lord or has run away from
Him. As a result, they are suffering the
consequences, and you just want to shake them and say, “Wake up! Don’t you know
Jesus is the solution?” You pray and pray and pray some more for them, but they
are stuck in their patterns of sin, thinking that the next car, wife, party,
job, etc., will solve all their problems.
As I have been dealing with my own loved ones, I just wanted to share something that has been encouraging
me as I pray for them.
In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet Habakkuk is arguing
with God over the state of the nation of Israel. He first questions God basically saying, “Why
are the wicked in Judah prospering?”
(Hab 1:2-4, my paraphrase) “God no one listens to you because you aren’t
acting, and your promises aren’t coming true.”
I think I am like this a lot
with God. I want God to do something
now, and I don’t see Him acting, so therefore, He is violating His promises.
Even if I can’t figure out the specific promise I don’t think God is upholding,
He certainly has turned a deaf ear to my prayers because I have prayed so long
for some people.
God responds to Habakkuk saying, “I am going to raise up the
Chaldeans to execute my judgment against Judah.” (Hab 1:5-11) To which Habakkuk
complains, “How is that a good plan to use an even more wicked people to judge
Judah’s evils?” (Hab 1:12-17)
As it relates to my loved ones, I tend to say
something like, “God why can’t you just turn on some light bulb in their heads
so they get it? Why do they have to suffer so much? Free them from this bondage
and oppression.” I get annoyed with God for not acting in my timing, and just
like Habakkuk, I am standing on my post almost defiantly waiting for God to
respond because I am sure I am right (Hab 2:1).
But I love God’s powerful response. God gives Habakkuk a vision to record and
says, “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal
and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly
come, it will not delay.” (Hab 2:3)
First of all, God’s plan is for His
yet appointed time. He has a time that
He has determined to act, not me.
Second, He affirms the certainty of the events. “It will not fail.” “It
will certainly come.”
Finally, note the tension in the timings. It is hastening towards its goal, yet
tarrying.
We are to wait for it even though
it will not delay.
This is a hard tension to deal with as we care for and
grieve over the pain in the lives of our loved ones, but God is God. He is in
control, and He will do exactly what He says, when He knows it is best.
Even if we don’t see it, He is quickly moving
to accomplish His goals and will, and we are to wait. Certainly we are to pray without ceasing and
compassionately care for and forgive our loved ones, but ultimately God has the
timing down, and it will not delay.
Regardless
of what I see, may I praise God like Habakkuk:
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the
fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord God is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.
