We live in a world that’s a bit … well … jacked up. Perhaps you’ve noticed.
There are many things we can and should do in response to evil in our world, but our inability to influence meaningful widespread change is often frustrating and, at times, downright depressing. At least that’s the case for me.
So, what do we do when we’ve done all we can do and we can’t do anything more?
Here’s something that helps me: repeat the words of Habakkuk.
You remember Habakkuk, right? He’s one of those Old Testament guys who knew all too much about God’s displeasure with a jacked-up world.
Habakkuk 3 records a song by the prophet, and near the end he lists all sorts of legitimate reasons for being worried about the condition of the world as he knew it. Then, he provides something we need just as much today as he did thousands of years ago: perspective.
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,” he says, “I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:18)
No matter what was going on or would happen, Habakkuk was choosing to rejoice and be joyful – not in the circumstances, but in the Lord who was his savior. The world was out of Habakkuk’s control, but not God’s.
Jesus told us something similar in John 16:33 – “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
That doesn’t mean we don’t actively fight against evil. It means we fight with a God-focused perspective on the outcome. In other words, our first response to our jacked-up world should be to have the wisdom-soaked attitude of Habakkuk.
Think about whatever irritates you about this world – large things or small – and give it a try …
A madman has fired bullets into a crowd?
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Hurricanes are bashing Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean islands …
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Earthquakes are crippling regions of Mexico …
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Your favorite sports team lost again …
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
You can’t figure out the feud between the president and his rivals …
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
You have troubles at work …
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
You have troubles at home …
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Crime … abortion … racism … politics … protests …
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
I’m the first to admit that I don’t naturally turn to praise as a first response to my frustrations. More often than not, those frustrations simmer and often they boil over before I slow down enough to surrender them to the Lord. When I finally do, the world is still broken but my soul finds some peace.
No matter what causes us to worry, wring our hands, or feel the temptation to rant on social media, there’s something powerful about saying that verse from Habakkuk out loud. It’s reorienting. Calming. Reassuring. Refreshing. It’s a reminder that despite our weakness, nothing is ever out of God’s control. And while we might not like things or understand them, we can trust in an all-knowing, all-loving, all-just God.
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