Mark Carey writes

Be like Habakkuk 

There once was a man with a strange name - Habakkuk. Next to nothing is known about him - the book of the Bible bearing his name only reveals his interaction with God way back around 612 BC. His words, however, have great resonance for us right now. 

Because he asked ‘Why?’ Why did this powerful Babylonian empire seem to get away with terrible things even against God's own people? How could God allow such suffering? He protested at profound injustice - and he didn't much like the responses he received. Yet he held the strong belief that God would go about His sovereign work… that God would save. 

Near the end of the book he says the following 

"I heard and my heart pounded,

my lips quivered at the sound;

decay crept into my bones,

and my legs trembled.

Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity

to come on the nation invading us."

The message of Habakkuk is that God knows what He is doing - He can be trusted - even when great catastrophe is being visited upon innocents. Despite his whole body showed the symptoms of trauma, anxiety and fear Habakkuk could still say "Yet I will wait patiently..." - he focusses his attention on trusting his Lord because he knows God is…. a God who acts.

With our awareness of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the great threat to global security - let us wait upon God - for the day of calamity to come upon the invading nation. Let us repent of our complacency that has led the nations into such a terrible time and let's pray for our national leaders, international diplomacy, and the people of Ukraine as they fight and flee the aggressor.

Habakkuk goes on to say, "yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour."

So, what do we do at this time?

Wait patiently and rejoice! 

This is simple, yet at the same time hard to do. But if Habakkuk could do it….. so can we!

Rev. Mark Carey. Christ Church Bridlington Network.