Strong Point

Hab. 3:^17-18 “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… yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!”

Some people think that it is only when good things happen that God is happy with them. That theology is imbalanced. Question, what was the sin of Paul and Silas? They were doing God’s work and they were smack in the middle of God’s will. Yet they were flogged and jailed. So, we need to trash the theology that because you are in-line with God, things must be perfect. We need to trash the theology that because things are not perfect, therefore you are not in-line with God. At another extreme are those who push the doctrine that people have to suffer for you to know God. They say that there has to be suffering, consistent suffering in the believer’s journey. These people tell us that you have to suffer all your life so that you can have fellowship with Christ. That is not true and that is not in the Bible.

What I am saying is, regardless, your situations and my situations do not define God. God is God by Himself. He is the self-existing One. Listen, whether it is good, He is God! If it is tough, praise God! If things are going rosy and well, it is well. Guess what? If things are challenging, it is still well. And it is not a statement of denial neither is it Christianese. It is a fact, regardless of what your situations are, it is still well because God is still God. Your situations have not dethroned God. He will remain God forever! But what you do in that ‘midnight hour’, what you do in the ‘darkest part of the night’, what you do in that time when everything seems to be closing in on you determines how far you go.

What you do even when things are going well, determines how far you go. So, if things are going well and you do not praise, you are not grateful, you are not humble, you are asking for trouble because things can change very quickly. Also, if things are not going well and you grumble, nothing will change. But if things are not going well yet you defy it and you praise God and throw yourself in gratitude before your Maker. Things are going to turn around and the change will happen. What am I saying? The place of pain can actually be the place of power if it becomes the point of praise. That same place of pain can become the place of power if it becomes the point of praise. We see from our anchor scripture today that the writer of Habakkuk knew this; he knew that God is still God regardless of his situation. And because God is still God, therefore it is well and “I will be joyful in the God of my salvation”. It is this understanding that transforms the place of pain to the point of praise and makes you a magnet for heaven’s attention.

Ps.84:⁶ “When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.” When you walk through the valley of weeping, where everyone else is weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs for you in the Name of Jesus and the autumn rains will clothe it with blessings in the Name of Jesus.

Prayer[song]: For the Lord is good (3x) and His mercies endureth forever… Amen!