Where is God in the Hardships of Life

Where is God when We Cry in Sorrow?

Habakkuk 1-3

“Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.  The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.”

 

                  Habakkuk begins with a cry of despair and ends with a song of praise.  What happened, what changed his perspective from hopelessness to praise? How do we likewise find the voice of praise when we cry out in despair?

                  Habakkuk cries out with a plea we also offer when we are going through times of trial and when we see the injustice in the world, where sin seems to be winning the day. “How long, O Lord, will I cry for help and you will not hear?” The words seem shocking coming from the lips of a prophet, yet they are the very words we often cry when going through times of difficulty. However, Habakkuk’s cry was not just for himself but for the world in which he lived. Everywhere he turned, he saw that sin seemed to be winning the day. He prayed for God to act, to bring justice into the world and to stop the reign of terror and sin. Yet heaven remained silent. Habakkuk could understand the presence of evil, for we live in a fallen world. What he could not understand was the silence of heaven in the face of evil. How could a holy and righteous God seem indifferent to sin when he is “too pure to approve evil” (1:13)? 

                  We struggle with the same paradox. Every time we read the news, we are reminded that evil seems to be in control. People take advantage of others’ misfortunes to line their own pockets by charging exorbitant interest on loans (2:6). They establish their own security through bloodshed (2:9, 12). Instead of worshipping God, they turn to idols of their own making (2:18). We see the same thing in our country today. The rich gain their wealth at the expense of the poor. People in the streets turn to violence to force their rule over others. They kill the unborn because the baby is not financially convenient. In today’s world, those who proclaim God’s moral law are labeled evil, while we give approval to those who embrace sin. As evil increases, we wonder why heaven remains silent.

                  This is why the message of Habakkuk is so important. Habakkuk reminds us that the idols of man remain silent and powerless, while it is God who speaks. Instead of worshiping false gods of materialism and pleasure that remain silent in the face of our trials, we are to stand in silence before God because of his holiness (2:19-20). In chapter 2, God has spoken and affirmed that he will bring judgment. In chapter 3, we see that the splendor of God covers the earth (3:3-4), and he will come in judgment. Heaven may seem silent, but it never remains silent. There comes a time when God will bring his judgment and restore righteousness.

                  It is this assurance that gives Habakkuk a new sense of hope and confidence. As the book closes, Habakkuk’s circumstances have not changed. He is still in distress (3:16-17). Life is still marred by struggles and hardship. However, what has changed is his focus. Instead of being overwhelmed by the tragedy of his circumstances, he is overwhelmed by the assurance of God’s salvation. Even in the midst of adversity, he rejoices because God has given him new strength, and he will dwell in the high places with God (3:18-19). When we get frustrated, discouraged, or hopeless because of the sin in the world and the struggles we face in life, we need to remember that God may be silent for a time, but he is not indifferent to our plight. There will come a time when God will bring his salvation, and that is why we can still rejoice in the present.