Give thanks
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19 NLT What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? With COVID-19, election, and all the other ups and downs of 2020, this year has thrown many people for a loop. There are times that it is difficult to express gratefulness when it seems that everything around you is collapsing. Accomplishments you invested in may fail. People to whom you minister may disappoint you. The business or career you worked hard to build may crumble. These times, as difficult as they are, can provide opportunities to stop and examine what is truly important to you. From our text, Habakkuk witnessed the collapse of most of what mattered to him. Yet through the loss, failure, and disappointment, he was able to distinguish between what was precious to him and what was temporary and empty. He came to the point where he could sincerely say that even if everything around him failed, he still would rejoice and be grateful to God. If the fig tree bore no fruit; if the vine produced no grapes; if the flocks and herds stopped reproducing; he would still praise God. His praise might not come easily especially when he observed that everything around him had fallen short of his expectations, nevertheless he would praise God. Habakkuk could not make fig trees produce figs. He could not control the productivity of the flocks and herds, but he could control how he responds to circumstances because of his faith in God. He chose to praise the Lord. Your praise for Him does not depend on the success of your actions but on God’s nature and His love and faithfulness to you. Ask God to help you look past worldly concerns to understand the reasons you have to be grateful to Him.
Blessings,
