Got Questions?

I woke up early this morning and went into my secret place. I had a few troubling things on my mind, so I cried out to God for His presence to meet me there because without His presence, it’s wasted time.

After several worship songs had played, I opened up the bible with no agenda and simply asked God where to go. Like He often does, He led me to the book of Habakkuk. I had read this book before but couldn't tell you what it was about.

The first thing I read was the purpose of the book “To show that God is still in control of the world despite the apparent triumph of evil”…mmmm God where are you going with this? Reading further, the intro talked about how life is filled with questions; boy was I asking God questions this morning, so I knew He was talking to me!

Asking how and why and when, we probe beneath the surface to find satisfying answers. But not all questions have answers wrapped and neatly tied. Sometimes these unanswered questions create more questions and nagging, spirit-destroying doubt.

We all respond differently, some people choose to live with their doubts, ignoring them and moving on with life. Others become cynical and hardened. But there are those who reject those options and continue to ask, and look for answers.

Habakkuk was one of these people. He boldly and confidently took his complaints directly to God. And God answered him.

The first chapter of the book is mainly devoted to question asking and crying out “How long Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen?” Wow, doesn’t that sound familiar, that could have been me this morning!

Then in chapter 2 Habakkuk declares he will wait to hear God’s answers to his cries. God speaks and meets him right where he is. With his questions answered, the book then concludes with a prayer of rejoicing in who God is and what He will do.(Habakkuk 3:18-19). If Habakkuk can ask profound questions of God, we can too! Listen to God’s answers and rejoice that He is at work in the world and your life, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

I’m going to conclude with a a few words from a song called "We've Come To Declare", that God used to speak to me today:

“Your heart was torn, forgiveness was born
Yet through your pain, you called us by name
So that we would be free, yes free indeed
Free to run with you, to be all you created us to be.
In you, yes it is true, we are free
We have come to declare the beauty of the Lord”