Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: RELAX (06/08/17)
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TITLE: Timing is Everything | Previous Challenge Entry
By Chris Goglin
06/14/17 -
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This small book in the Old Testament contains three chapters, but carries an important message for all believers. Before I dug into the Word, I implored the Holy Spirit on what he wanted me to draw from this book. Would it capture my attention? Would I read a few verses and put it aside? Not this time.
Most situations that end up with a peaceful solution begin with circumstances that are hectic and frustrating. Habakkuk faced cruel and malicious people all around him. Everyone in his day argued and fought, and he hated watching it. “The law is weak and useless, and justice is never done. Evil men get the better of the righteous, and so justice is perverted” (Habakkuk 1:4). Most of all, Habakkuk could not understand why God did nothing. Sound familiar?
Similar conditions divide our nation today. The Babylonians, and ISIS in the modern world, both demonstrated gruesome brutality, as they tormented everyone in their path (Habakkuk 1:9). As I read this amazing book, God encouraged me with a persistent message, which he also revealed to Habakkuk…TIMING IS EVERYTHING.
Keep watching…“the nations around you, and you will be astonished at what you will see” (Habakkuk 1:5). The Lord continued to answer Habakkuk’s complaints about all the turmoil around him. He said to write down his frustrations because it is …“not yet time for it to come true” (Habakkuk 2:3). God emphasized it would take a while, but to wait for it. He has it under control, both in Babylonian times and today. We are to anticipate God’s timing to experience true victory and peace of mind.
God reassures us that he will defeat our enemies, and before you know it, the very people that terrified the righteous, will be destroyed. Likewise, if we develop patience and boldness in waiting, we can experience the faith Habakkuk revealed in his concluding prayer to God.
Habakkuk realized even if his crops and sheep all die, and his fields are bare and his fruit trees wither, he can depend on God to make everything right again. He said, “I will quietly wait for the time to come when God will punish those who attack us” (Habakkuk 3:16).
How many times do we want our prayers answered NOW? We need the money yesterday; we need a cure for terminal cancer today; we need peace in our country quickly---this will all happen to God’s faithful people as they continue to stand firm. Waiting is like nibbling on an appetizer long enough to reach the main course, and then savoring the sweet dessert of victory. The more I concentrate on waiting; my excitement grows within me, because I know I can rest in God’s miraculous timing.
All bible quotes are from The Good News Bible, Today’s English Version
Non-fiction
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Those words from Habakkuk really blessed my heart.
Remember to capitalize the word Bible since it is the name of a specific book.