“I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18).

Habakkuk prophesied in a very difficult and terrible time in the history of Judah. Just before Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah and took Daniel and others captive, God gave Habakkuk the assignment to write concerning His Word. Things looked bleak. Trouble was on the horizon. The economy was in peril (Habakkuk 3:17). The leaders were wicked and had abandoned God. While Habakkuk cared deeply about his country, there was an element of joy, peace, and trust in his writing. This is not living in denial. It is, on the other hand, the result of trusting God, knowing His plan, and trusting His care. As you know Karen and I are on quite a journey right now as she has been diagnosed with cancer. We may not be thankful for the cancer, but we are thankful for our Heavenly Father who loves us and holds us in His hand. When Habakkuk wrote his book, the six things of which he speaks were the six things Israel depended upon for survival. He poses the very real truth that even if all six things fail, he will still rejoice in the God of his salvation. Our great God never fails.

For today: We may not rejoice for the situation. But we can rejoice in the situation if we know the Lord.