Are You Paralyzed?

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.  God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.

What a great word from Habakkuk 3:17-19.  At the end of this heartbreaking book, Habakkuk lays out a desperate situation.  There is emptiness on the fig tree, the vines, olive crops, the field, the flock, and the herd.  From a human perspective, it is empty, cold, and lifeless.  So how does he respond?  He rejoices in the Lord.  Let’s be honest.  There is nothing else to rejoice in under these circumstances.

If you are a follower of Christ, you have an enemy (see Ephesians 6:10-20) and he wants you to feel hopeless and paralyzed.  In that desperation of hopelessness he is eager for you to focus on what is not going well.  It may not be a fig tree or herds of sheep, but you know what it is in your life.  Your enemy (see Ephesians 6:10-20) wants you to pay attention to your despair.  Once you have reached despair, you are paralyzed and immobile.  You have no desire to serve Jesus.  No desire to know Jesus more.  When you’re at that place…your enemy (see Ephesians 6:10-20) has won.

So, what are we to do?  Focus on the Lord.  Notice Habakkuk says he will rejoice in the Lord.  He is not rejoicing (or despairing) in the emptiness around him, but rejoicing in the Lord.  The God who brings salvation.  He is the author of joy.  The God who gives strength, He is to originator of joy!

If you are paralyzed by the things around you, look to the Lord.  He is salvation, He is your strength, He is your joy.  Everything else may fail you, but He never will.