I don’t Believe it!

 

Today, I have to ask you—have you ever said this phrase? –“I don’t believe it!”

 

At some point or another, those words were uttered out of your mouth or screamed in your head. I remember very vividly saying it several times when I was in my 20’s. The first time was when my wife said she would marry me. The second was when the doctor told me that my twin sons would not live. The third was the day that they were born. The fourth was when my youngest son was born. In my 30’s, I said it when I was blessed to become the pastor here at Berea and meet so many amazing people. Each time I said it, I was filled with emotion. Today, I say it again because in just a few days, my twins will turn 18.

We make that statement whenever we encounter a situation or circumstance that doesn’t seem to fit in our plan for life. Sometimes the change is sad and devastating. Sometimes that change is positive and encouraging. Regardless of what the circumstance might be, we recognize that what is happening in our lives is beyond our control.

 

Today, with the climate of panic that seems to be rising throughout the world, we can respond in one of two ways: 1. We can join in the panic and become overwhelmed ourselves. 2. We can embrace the fact that God is working in a way that we will never truly understand this side of heaven.

 

Last night I was reading through the book of Habakkuk. If you have never had the chance to read through that book, I would encourage you to do so. It is a short book, just a few chapters, but it has tremendous insight into the power and glory of God. Habakkuk is considered to be a minor prophet is believed to have lived in Jerusalem and was prophesying around 612BC. We really don’t have a lot of information about the prophet other than the times he is mentioned in this book, and some Jewish tradition. As I read through this book, I was struck by the first 5 verses:

 

How long, Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
The Lord’s Answer
5 “Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.

 

Habakkuk 1:1-5

 

 

Does this sound familiar? Do his questions resonate with you? Have you ever questioned God the way that Habakkuk is doing here? I believe we all can relate and share in the confusion and even stress that seemed to be voiced.

 

I underlined the part of those five verses that hit me the hardest. Habakkuk was crying out to God for some clarity in the midst of all that was going on, and God simply points out that He is doing to do something that Habakkuk and the people wouldn’t even believe if He pulled out the plans and showed them what was going to happen!

 

As we make our way through each new day right now, we are confronted with new possibilities and new fears, but the truth is that we don’t need to be afraid. We don’t need to be afraid because we can trust that God is up to something amazing! God is doing something that we wouldn’t believe even if He told us!

 

Challenge:

 

So, here is your challenge today sit in His presence today and allow His joy to consume you. Allow His peace to roll over you. Allow His comfort to surround you. Just sit with Him!

 

Then, tell someone that you are thankful that God has placed them in your life. Share with them the hope that you have in God, and let them know that God is using them to impact your life! Believe me, you will bring joy and a smile to someone today, who desperately needs it!

Know that I love you and am praying for you!

 

Question: Who can I thank God for today?