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Dear BAGBR Churches,
3.9.2024
Habakkuk 3: 17-19 “Though the fig tree
should not blossom…Yet I will exult in the
Lord…the Lord God is my strength…”
Habakkuk saw a not so bright future for his
nation: no figs, no fruit, no olives, no
wheat, no sheep, and no cattle! That
kind of description was of a hopeless and
helpless situation—one that would not be
reversed or improved, only endured.
Will we ever face such a time, are we facing
such a time now? Are some in the midst of
what seems hopeless? When all the
circumstances say we will be destroyed, all
the news reports are gloom and doom, all the
pains we are feeling seem not to go away,
will we have faith? It is one thing to boast
in the Lord when we feel like it, when the
world around us is bright and hopeful and
the future looks promising. But, what
about the hard times? … He is still to be
praised in difficult times, indeed; it is
right and wise to do so out of heart of
gratitude. But to be able to do so
when negative scenarios seem to be playing
out—is an act of faith, rooted in our trust
in the Lord. There are places all over the
world where believers are in bleak
situations, and yet so many of them are NOT
despairing and complaining but trusting,
worshipping and serving God.
If our faith is built on comfort,
convenience, and circumstances, then our
faith will struggle and flounder in times of
distress and grief. But if our faith
is convictional, Word-based, and backed by a
surrendered life to His will, then our
response and resolve will be quite
different. Whatever our lot, we will
be able to walk in places we never thought
we could, stand against adversity in ways we
never thought we had the strength to, and we
will learn to say along with the great hymn
writer, “It is Well with my soul.”
In Christ,
Tommy Middleton
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