Invitations from god | Habakkuk

Invitations from Habbakuk

Habakkuk 1:5, ESV
“Look among the nations and see, wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.”

We've heard all the expressions: the only constant is change; change is inevitable, growth is optional; be the change you want to see in the world… But no management speak can alter the fact that change is hard on us. Disruption takes its toll.

And there is no question we are still navigating our way through the most disruptive event the majority of us will have ever experienced. And I understand from the experts that six or so months into a sustained, unexpected, and unwelcome crisis it is likely many of us will have hit a bit of a wall because, frankly, we have had enough of change. And, that means we can be left feeling a bit lost, a bit low, and uncertain about the future.

And, although we know intellectually there is always a bigger picture and God is always at work to bring all things together for our good and to show himself mighty to save, the fact is our emotions may not be lining up with those truths just now.

So, the question is how do we get through this when our feelings are all over the place? How do we continue to trust God in these incredibly challenging times? And - praise God - some of the answers and the hope we need right now can be found in the book of Habakkuk. And I’m suggesting there are four invitations from God to us in this season. And, today I want to share one:   

We are invited to get real.
Habakkuk is living in a time of disaster; everything is wrong with his world. Not only is his nation declining spiritually, morally, and socially but he sees a threat coming that will lead to its devastation. And he is weighed down by the things he sees but - more than that - frustrated by the seeming inaction of the Lord.

Now Habakkuk’s name means “he that embraces; a wrestler.” And, wrestling is exactly what he does. He grabs hold of God and demands a response from him. “Why aren’t you listening to me? Why aren’t you moving? Why am I having to watch this? I cannot believe what I am hearing!” He's extraordinarily honest emotionally. In fact, it’s all really raw for Habakkuk and he’s so candid that in verses 3 and 13 of chapter one he calls God “idle” and some Hebrew scholars suggest when he says in verse 12 “Are you not from everlasting?” he's not just railing at God, he's insulting him.

Habakkuk is so much more honest than some of us. Well, maybe not you, because you’re all lovely. He’s so much more honest than me. Because, I don’t like admitting I’m angry. I box my feelings up. I don’t want to share my mourning and lament. I don’t want to acknowledge I’m finding it tough.

And, it’s easy when we’re not being authentic to become very bland in the way we approach God and other people. "Oh, well, I'm sure there’s a purpose in all this..." “I’m sorry you’re upset, let’s put the kettle on.” It's as if we think God is afraid of our emotion, is diminished by our anger, can't cope with our questions, and won't be there for us if we have a little rant.

And yet, behaving and thinking that way is absolutely contrary to what he invites us to do. Time and time again in the bible, God invites us to wrestle with him[1], question him[2], ask him for help to understand.[3] In short, to get real.

And we don’t have to be afraid of his sensibilities. Jeremiah calls God a deceptive brook.[4] That’s rude. Thomas says he won’t believe Jesus has risen from the dead unless he can put his finger in the holes in his hand and his hand in his side. That’s boorish. And invasive.

We are deluding ourselves if we think that God doesn’t have enough grace for our emotions or our questions. And we might find everything we’re experiencing right now really hard to articulate, but he’s even covered that off for us. Romans tells us when we don’t know how to pray the Spirit intercedes for us.[5] “I don’t know what to say to you right now God.” “That’s OK, darling child, my Spirit is going to take what’s in your heart and groan it out and form it into a prayer on your behalf.” That’s phenomenal!

There is an invitation from God in Habakkuk in this season to get real. There is tragedy and injustice and pain in the world, and we need to name it for what it is. God is always his authentic self. It’s time for us to be the same.

[1] Jacob
[2] Isaiah 45:11
[3] James 1:5&6
[4] Jeremiah 15:18
[5] Romans 8:26