We are a forgetful people.
So often we find ourselves in trying seasons of life and wonder where God has gone. If you’re like me you’ve probably asked questions like, “is He still here?”, or “why is He letting hard things happen?” It may seem like He is no where to be found or that He isn’t working.
The book of Habakkuk, while short, is an incredibly important one to study. Habakkuk cries out to God asking similar questions to the ones posed above. He waits and listens. God's first response to Habakkuk is found in verse 5 of chapter 1: "Look at the nations and observe--be utterly astounded! For I am doing something in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it." In other words, God is saying He is working, even when it may not seem like it. We don't get to see things from God's perspective. We are so unaware of everything He is doing right in this moment. He is always working. But even when we cannot see it in the moment we are in, we should be able to look back and see His movements in the past.
We seem to forget that our God holds true to His promises. We are unable to remember all the good and faithful things He has done in the past. It’s sad because my guess is when you really take time to sit and recall God’s goodness in your life, the list could go on forever. It should be the easiest thing to remember, yet it rarely seems that easy.
Somehow we believe that the situation we are currently facing is different than other situation before it. But here’s the deal: it isn’t. We aren’t that special. Our situation, while different in the details from others, will have the same outcome: God’s faithfulness. Again and again God has proven that He keeps His promises. He has not let us down yet.
I challenge you to go write down all the good and faithful things God has done in your life and in the lives of those around you. When you begin to feel discouraged that God might not hold up His end of the bargain, go find that list. Be reminded that God never makes a promise He doesn’t keep.
We may be forgetful, but He is always faithful.
"Great is Your faithfulness to me, Great is Your faithfulness, from the rising sun From the rising sun to the setting same I will praise Your Name, oh Great is Your faithfulness to me
Oh oh, Your faithfulness It never runs out, it never runs out Oh oh, Your faithfulness, oh oh It never runs out, it never runs out It never runs out, it never runs out"
~"Promises" by Maverick City Music