Looking Back
The past is sometimes daunting to many of us. We do not love looking back, and that is for a good reason. However, there is an aspect of looking back that is beneficial for Christians, especially if they seek hope for the future. Looking back has nothing to do with self but everything to do with God's character by how He reveals Himself through past actions. Habakkuk continues to shape our outlook of hope through his prayer in chapter 3. In imagery-filled language, the prophet takes us back to how God revealed Himself during the exodus period. The prophet forces us to reflect on the past as God delivered His people through the exodus. He tells us that just as God displayed mighty works in the past, He would be present and active in the same way in the here and now. Dear believers, as Christians, we look back into the past to trace God's faithfulness and not to be bound in the things of the past. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever more as there is no shadow of turning with Him, meaning that there is no fluctuation of God's character (Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17). When the prophet reflected on these great works, His heart began racing again with renewed hope. Hope captured His heart that God would be present and active just as He was in the past. When we read the Scriptures, we are looking back into the wondrous works of our God, who always fulfilled what He promised that we might have hope, even as the Apostle Paul reminds us (Romans 15:4). Thus, in the O.T, the promise that God would be with His people was the answer to their fears, and now through Christ that promise if far greatly fulfilled because Christ assures us that He will be His people always to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Dear believer, God is not far away or unconcerned with your life. Even in the silence or the loudness of God's answers that do not make sense to you for the moment, He is there in the midst of your difficulty and pain. You have a reason to hope because you hope in the eternal God.
What is Biblical Hope?
Biblical hope is not like worldly hope that is understood as something that may or may not happen. Biblical hope is as sure as reality itself. As believers, our hope is anchored in the fact of God's sure promises in Jesus Christ. Our hope is not in the uncertainties of this world or in the temporary things the world has to offer, but it is anchored in Christ in the glory to come, which is what the Hebrew writer reminds us of (Hebrews 6:13-20). Thus, Habakkuk is asking us to be confident in our God's unchanging and consistent character. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30) are the words of Christ, who extends an invitation to God's children who find themselves with great burdens and uncertainties in the here and now. Look back at God's faithfulness and unchanging character and have hope that the future is secure in Him. That was Habakkuk's hope, and so should it be yours.
Hope Amid Difficulties and Uncertainties
There was also hope even amid God's declared judgment. In Habakkuk's eyes, God's solution to send the Babylonians was not appeasing and seemed counterproductive, but we know God was not through with His people. Even in judgment, there was salvation for His remnant. The wicked (the unbeliever) will never find true rest. Those who hope in their strength and seem to think that life can be lived without the Lord hate their future. There is some sort of illusion that because the wicked seem to be prospering, God is not a reality or that He cares less, especially in our suffering, and so we can do things our way. Nothing could be further from the truth. Delayed judgment and the patience of our God are not to be confused with lack of power or control over human affairs, for it only reveals His mercy and grace (2 Peter 3:8-9). We should not abandon our faith because of momentary affliction. Just like in Habakkuk's prayer, there is hope of God's redemption of His people and restoration of their relationship, so we are to make reconciliation with God our priority. Salvation and a right relationship with the Lord are the primary motives of our lives, and the anxieties of life distract us from pursuing what is most important. Our future is safe in God's hands, and though He allows momentary pain and difficulties in your life, He is still sovereign over us. Have hope that all will be alright, and approach the Lord confidently in prayer as Habakkuk does so long as you are confident that you belong to Him through salvation in Christ.
Looking Up !
Finally, Habakkuk looks in the only direction safe for a suffering and weary heart, "Up!" There is a profound effect on the prophet's posture and understanding of God's character when he concludes his prayer. His response is not doubt but a fearful delight in the profound greatness of our God. When you constantly learn to perceive and meditate on God's greatness and sovereignty, your heart will be less worried about the future. You will be like a child who knows they are safe as long as mum and dad are around. However, God is not like our earthly parents, who are limited; He is holy and righteous and can be entirely trusted. But the question is, will things we always pray about turn out the way we hope for? The concluding words of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3: 17-18) are words that we often fail to declare because we think that they show our lack of faith. We know of one who suffered much in the Scriptures, the man Job. He states similarly in the line of Habakkuk when he says, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15). As a believer, we have to understand that faith is not believing in something uncertain so strongly or believing something when you are not sure about it, but biblical faith is anchored on believing something so sure, that is, what God has declared and who He is. Dear Christians, we believe in a hope that cannot fail and one that cannot embarrass us, as Paul says in Romans 5:5. Why would our hope be so certain? Habakkuk is telling us that the answer lies in the sure promises of our God that as we look back at Israel's history through His mighty deeds and trust His sovereign acts, though we may not understand them, therein lies our answer. When we declare as Habakkuk and other biblical writers declare, it is not a declaration of our lack of faith but rather our sole dependence on God's omniscience and His sovereign power.
Keep Hope Alive
Dear believer, you can have this kind of hope. It is a hope inspired when we focus on our God even amid challenging times and circumstances that seem to wear down our hearts and create room for uncertainty in the future. We can declare, like Habakkuk, "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." Just like Habakkuk, we will not say these words because we are confident that governments, friends, or even family, but because we look to "God, the Lord, (who) is my strength." With this kind of hope, Habakkuk, who also reflects Isaiah's words (Isaiah 40:28-31), tells us that the Lord will take those who are heavily laden, anxious, and afraid and enable them to tread on high places as they hope in Him. Dear saint, your future is secure because God is in God's hands. Habakkuk's prayer in chapter 3 should also be your prayer, especially for those who have lost hope or have their hope slipping from them. You have a reason to hope even amid your suffering and difficult circumstances, whatever they may be. As you pray, be confident that all is well. Do not be embarrassed because of your hope in God even if things are not working the way you hope them to, because in His time He will make all things beautiful (Ecclesiastes 3:11). God loves you, dear brother and sister in Christ, hang in there and put your hope in Him. To the unbeliever, if only the things of this life that are temporary are those that give you a glimmer of hope, your heart should be ready and set for eternal anguish. The world gives no hope of anything ever getting better because of the wickedness of man, just like in Habakkuk's time, but in God's salvation, which is certain in Christ our Lord, you can be sure of this one thing, the prayers of the righteous will be heard. Run to Him and find rest and hope for eternity. May you declare, "Yet I will keep hope alive for the Lord is my strength."
