Today’s scripture: Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Robert Ferguson):
I happened to run into a fellow Be Still and Know writer lat church one week. We both agreed that being blessed with the opportunity to write devotions was ultimately far more beneficial to us, as authors, than we believe our submissions could be to anyone else. I feel this way because I find it impossible to write one of these pieces without first applying the principles to my own life and examining myself.
I’m not sure why I was drawn to this particular text but as I studied the complete story of Habakkuk I felt that I could really identify with his journey. There is an important progression in Habakkuk’s life from chapter one to chapter three: a growth in the grace and knowledge of God.
- In chapter one, Habakkuk is worrying and focusing on his problem. He is sparring with God.
- In chapter two, Habakkuk is waiting and trusting in his God. He drops his weary, too-short arms.
- And finally, in chapter three, Habakkuk is worshiping and focusing on God. He takes off the gloves and falls to the mat in surrender.
The circumstances in Habakkuk’s life did not change. As a matter of fact, the circumstance got worse. What changed was Habakkuk’s attitude.
When did you first realize that your arms were too short to box with God? I realized in the middle of a crying, stomping, brat-like fit that tantrums were not helping my circumstances. Eventually I realized that God only requires that we trust and believe that God hears our prayers. And prayer changes things!
Certainly praying takes some admissions, that is, recognition of our state as only human. But that’s not a bad thing. When we cling tightly to our own weaknesses, faults, shortcomings and bad decisions we are simply hiding behind a hedge which everyone can see through. We narrowed the world to a small hiding place and try to be invisible, suspecting rather pitifully that everyone has been seeing you all along. (Guilty!)
Praying means giving up false security, no longer looking for arguments which will protect you if you get pushed into a corner, no longer setting your hope on a couple of lighter moments which your life might still offer. Praying means to stop expecting from God that same small-mindedness which you discover in yourself.
To pray is to walk in the full light of God and to say simply, without holding back, I am only human and you are God. At that moment conversion occurs, the restoration of the true relationship. We are not the ones who once in a while make a mistake and God is not the one who now and then forgives. No, we are sinners and God is love. Conversion makes this obvious with a stunning simplicity and a disarming clarity.
This conversion brings with it the realization that lets you breathe again and puts you at rest in the embrace of a forgiving God. The experience results in a calm and simple joy. For then you can say, I don’t know the answer and I can’t do this thing but I don’t have to know it and I don’t have to be able to do it.
Prayer for the day: I am only human. You are God.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.