Habakkuk 3:17-18: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord,I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
We are farmers; we know the stress of drought, too much rain, or rain at the wrong time. Yet, we have never found ourselves in the situation Habakkuk describes: complete and total loss.
I recently used a journal that prompted me to write down what I was grateful for. I wrote things like "special time with family", "a visit with a friend", "my health". As I reflected on this, I pondered what it would be like to lose everything...where would that leave me? I shifted my focus to gratitude, not for temporal things, but for the One who is faithful, present, and unchanging. I began to journal about God's character, promises and love towards me.
Biblical joy is a deep, enduring state of delight and contentment stemming from one’s relationship with God, not from external circumstances; a response to God’s love, presence and redemptive work through Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:6-7 says, "Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."
This Advent season, let's focus on knowing, loving and trusting Jesus; our faith will deepen and we will become increasingly rooted in Him. Then, like Habakkuk, in times of sorrow and loss, we will say "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour."
Gaylene Klapstein
Pray
- Pray for our search for a new senior pastor. Pray for God’s timing in the process. Pray that we would all have patience in the process. Pray for peace and unity in our church family.
- Pray for the candidate the Lord is calling to be our next senior pastor.