Daily Reflections, Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Today's Scripture: Habakkuk 1:12-2:20

In response to Habakkuk’s earnest prayer for the punishment of Israel’s evil, God replied that he was raising up another nation, the Chaldeans, who would conquer Israel.

But to Habakkuk, this wasn’t quite the answer he was looking for. How could God use the Chaldeans, who were far more wicked than Israel, to punish his people? This didn’t make sense.

God’s answer to Habakkuk was that the Chaldeans would also be punished—in God’s perfect timing. But the lesson for Habakkuk and the lesson for us is that God’s ways are so much different than our ways. They often run counter to the conventional ways in which we expect Him to act.

Perhaps you’re praying for fi nancial relief. God may answer your prayers, but He may not provide in the exact way you desired. Or you may be looking for some clarity in your calling as a believer. And so God may cause you to lose your job or have your family move to another state. Not exactly the answer you were looking for, but again, God’s ways are different.

This causes us to trust God. To get on our knees in absolute dependence. And to know, deep down, that God’s will is much better than our own.

Today's Quote:  God’s ways—uncommon to us—force us to our knees in absolute dependence and trust.