Learning Three Ways to Hope from the Prophet Habakkuk

Do you think hoping is something easy? Probably more people would answer ‘no.’ Human beings hope that what we want will happen. Yet reality often says otherwise. That is why many people are disappointed. In fact, many do not want to hope too highly so they do not have to experience disappointment.

An Answer That Does Not Match Our Desire

Disappointment often happens because we do not get what we hoped for. Or often we do receive it, but it is not what we wanted. One child is disappointed because he did not win a competition. But another is disappointed because he only came in second place. 

There is a rather amusing story. One day, the son of a billionaire asked for a car as his birthday gift. “No problem,” said the father. On his birthday, a brand-new car was neatly parked in the yard.

The child jumped out to greet his new car. But what happened? He was disappointed, even to the point of shedding tears.

Confused, the father asked what was wrong. The child answered softly, “Dad, I wanted the latest BMW series. Why did you buy this series?”

This story may sound extreme to us. But let us reflect for a moment. Do we often act like that when we hope for something from God? Have we ever felt disappointed because God’s answer was not exactly what we wanted?

Habakkuk’s Desire Vs. God’s Will

The prophet Habakkuk was a prophet who lived in the final days of the kingdom of Judah. These were very critical times. Justice was not functioning as it should. People oppressed one another and God seemed silent.

In such a situation, it was only natural for Habakkuk to complain to God.

How long, Lord, must I cry out, but You do not hear, I cry out to You: “Violence!” but You do not save? - Habakkuk 1:2

 But what was God’s answer?

For indeed, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that fierce and swift nation, who march across the breadth of the earth to seize dwelling places not their own. - Habakkuk 1:6

Instead of promising help, God said that another nation would occupy Judah. The Chaldeans here are the Babylonians, already well known for their cruelty and military power. An answer like this certainly does not make sense. Things are already desperate at home, and now invaders will come from another land? 

Surely this was not the answer Habakkuk had hoped for. Imagine if we were in his position! Yet this is Habakkuk’s attitude at the end of the book:

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” - Habakkuk 3:18

What happened that caused Habakkuk’s response to change? What made him finally able to hope in God with confidence and joy, even though the situation did not change? Let us look together at the reason.

Hoping Like Habakkuk

If we read this short book, there are three attitudes of Habakkuk that we can imitate as he hoped in God. 

1. Hope With a Heart Submitted to God

 I will stand at my watch and station myself on the tower, I will look and wait to see what He will say to me, and what answer He will give to my complaint. - Habakkuk 2:1

Waiting for an answer is one of the unpleasant feelings to experience. Anxious, worried, impatient, uncertain, all kinds of things can churn within our hearts.

Habakkuk experienced the same thing. He waited for God’s answer to his questions. He described his waiting like someone expecting an arrival; like standing guard at a watchpost, with his neck stretched out trying to see into the distance. What kind of answer would come from God?

The moments of waiting for an answer are the moments when we can become doubtful. It is very easy for doubt to slip into our hearts. Often we are not even sure that God’s answer will come and choose to rely on ourselves.

But Habakkuk never questioned whether God would answer. With full confidence he patiently waited for God’s answer. Is this not the attitude of heart that we should imitate? 

Habakkuk was patient because he trusted God. His heart was submitted to when and what kind of answer would come. He knew that whatever God’s answer was, it would surely be the best. Let us learn to have a submissive heart like Habakkuk.

 2. Believe That God Is in Control

For the vision still awaits its appointed time, but it hastens to the end and does not lie; if it seems slow, wait for it, for it will surely come and will not delay. Indeed, the proud person is not upright in heart, but the righteous shall live by his faith. - Habakkuk 2:3-4

If we read further, God said that Babylon would attack Israel. But after that God would destroy Babylon because of its wickedness. God’s answer showed that He is in control of the events of the world.  

Habakkuk kept trusting, even though God asked him to keep waiting. What about us? When God has not yet given an answer to our questions, let us learn to keep hoping and trusting fully in Him. When we believe that God is the One who holds control over the whole world, then we will stand firm in hoping in Him.

3. Keep Relying on God in Every Circumstance

A heart that is submitted and believes that God is in control will lead to the third attitude: relying on God in every circumstance. It is an attitude that is easier said than done. Especially for someone with a position like the prophet Habakkuk, this certainly was not easy.

Yet this was the attitude of heart chosen by the prophet Habakkuk. Let us read carefully what he says in chapter 3:17-19.  

“Though the fig tree does not blossom, and the vine bears no fruit, though the yield of the olive fails,

though the fields produce no food, the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there are no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Lord God is my strength: He makes my feet like the deer’s feet; He enables me to tread on my heights.”

Habakkuk was ready to rely on God even in the worst situation. What about us? When trouble strikes, sometimes our hearts are ruled more by anxiety. We focus more on thinking of various ways to get out of a difficult situation. In fact, not rarely do we think of God as only a safety net.  

It was not so with Habakkuk. He had already anticipated the difficult times to come, and he had already made the decision to surrender himself to God. Not only that, Habakkuk also waited for God with a heart full of joy.

Let us learn to rely on God like Habakkuk, especially in the most difficult seasons of our lives.

Faith Like Habakkuk’s

The faith of Habakkuk is an extreme faith. He trusted fully and waited for God’s promise with great joy. Habakkuk did not try to control the situation, not even in the smallest matter. He placed his hope in God alone. Habakkuk chose to submit to God’s desire, even though the answer was not necessarily the one he hoped for.

There is a well-known quote that is good for us to reflect on. “Patience is not the ability to wait. It is the ability to wait with a good attitude.” Let us learn to hope like Habakkuk. We will see how great our God is and how He loves us!

-  Related Articles:

• “I’m Disappointed in God”
• What Kind of Heart Does God Want?
• Resign Yourself to Circumstances or Surrender to God?
• A Valuable Lesson from the Cursed Fig Tree
• Rekindle Your Zeal for Life: Find Strength in Weakness

-