Habakkuk 3:17-19 (New International Version)
17 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,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

FROM these scriptures, you could be tempted into thinking that this is a short course on how to overcome very tough times.

Habakkuk, the ancient prophet with the unusual name, certainly knew about a hard life.

He experienced lack.

It’s pretty clear that the land where he was living at the time was under strain:
-The fig trees were not budding.
-There were no grapes on the vine.
-Olive crops were failing.
-Fields were not producing.
-Pens and stalls were empty of sheep and cattle.

What he does next is significant and can be a key to how we overcome adversity.

He rejoiced in the Lord. This is not so easy to do when things are tough. You may be tempted to ask ‘why does God allow things to be so hard?’

Habakkuk doesn’t do that. He simply says he will be joyful in God his saviour.

He adds to this by saying that the Lord is his strength.

The depression and darkness seems to be fading here as Habakkuk continues with a reference to be fleet or light footed like the deer.

No heavy trudging around for him, he still (somehow) has a spring in his step.

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And then he rounds it off by saying that he can tread on the heights… or that God enables him to tread on the heights.

Where did he find this strength? By praising and rejoicing in God.

It might seem like a contradiction to some, but God’s ways sometimes are not the way man thinks they should be.

So be encouraged, keep rejoicing in God. He’ll enable you to walk on the heights.

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