No life is free from times of loss and uncertainty. How we see our life in those times, and more importantly, how we see God, will define our faith.

As Habakkuk surveyed his life and saw the hand of God at work in the nations, it greatly affected him, “I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror” (Habakkuk 3:16).

The concerns of Habakkuk provided substantial evidence to support his feelings, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren, even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty” (vs. 17-18).

When challenging times of lack and uncertainty arrived and brought painful emotions, Habakkuk did something remarkable, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” (vs. 18).

In the conditions of lack and uncertainty that Habakkuk experienced, he possessed something unshakeable – the strength of the Lord. ^“The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer able to tread upon the heights” (vs. 19).

Only the Lord can raise a person above a time of great lack and uncertainty. Habakkuk’s response of joy in the Lord is what released him from the pain of his experience – a pain that wanted to hold him back from rising to something higher.

It was not the blessings of life that come and go that gave Habakkuk this kind of faith. His faith was placed solely in God, not in his circumstances, good or bad. Difficult times will bring us to a decision point where we will decide where we will place our hope. 

Our provision, even a blessing from God, can morph into a form of idol worship where we stand before our provision and blessings and ascribe to them our worship because they are present. If our hoppers are full and flourishing it doesn’t take much faith to move through this life. It is another thing when we face lack. It is there that the purest form of worship will appear, a singular worship directed only at God. That kind of faith will allow us to rise above our circumstances because our faith is not attached to the things of this life. 

When lack or loss comes, the Lord will always remain faithful. It is then, when we still choose to honor Him in a place of loss or lack, that the greatest provision in our suffering will appear. It will be a heightened trust in the Lord who promised to never leave us or forsake us, even in times of lack and uncertainty.