Faith Through Concern

by David Rollert

Proverbs 3:6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” It is easy to trust God when you think you can see where the path leads - when life is predictable, and things are working out in your favor. However, trusting God seems difficult when life is unpredictable. When health is failing, money is tight, or there is social upheaval, that’s when we might start to question God.

The prophet Habakkuk faced this very situation. Nothing around him seemed to go right. The Jewish nation was corrupt, and the Babylonians were attacking. When he pleaded with God to intervene, God told him that Babylon would be His tool to punish the Jews for their sin and idolatry!

Throughout history, moments like this become the point at which many people abandon God. If God did not plan to direct the world to their liking, He must not be worth following. Do you notice the arrogance in that reaction? When the all-knowing and all-powerful God does not do what fallible humans want, we tend to reject the all-knowing God! We do not know all of God’s plan. We do not know the secret sins of those around us. We don’t know what earthly blessings God has in store for those who are faithful through the current trials. Put simply: we are not God.

Habakkuk gives us a great example of humbly trusting God, even when he didn’t like what God had in store. At the end of his book (chapter 3:16-19), Habakkuk writes: 16 “I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade us. 17 Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.” [emphasis added]

As Habakkuk trusted God despite his concern, we also must trust God when we are concerned. Take your concerns to God in prayer. Study His word. Obey His commands. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.