Rejoice!

Saturday December 13, 2014

The UK foot and mouth disease epidemic in 2001 wrought more destruction to the British farming community than any event in history. Some believers prayed that Christian farmers would be miraculously protected, while others prayed that their witness for Jesus would be strong, no matter what happened.

My friend´s sheep and dairy herd had to be destroyed within a month of that prayer. His elderly father phoned and old friend, who had also lost his herd, to sympathise with him. The friend was literally standing among the carcasses of his herd of pedigree bulls. This was a herd that had been started by his grandfather, perfected by his father and continued by him in the hope that his eldest son would inherit the well respected, carefully nurtured bloodlines when he retired.

But now, as he surveyed his dead beasts, his dreams were shattered and he was facing an uncertain future. But that´s when my father´s father quoted Habakkuk 3:17-19, and both old men wept.

They cried, but they also rejoiced in the God of their salvation (v.18). And God was glrified as others in the community saw them press on with joy. As John wrote, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it" (John 1:5).

Going through desperate trials with God makes a saint truly shine. A few months later during a Sunday service, I asked the farmer who had quoted Habakkuk, "When you recited those lines, and when you saw your livestock lying dead all around you, where was God?"

He looked at me and said with tears in his eyes, "Right there beside me, He was never closer."

All the church wept together with him, and worshipped. You could almost hear the cheers in heaven; for I´m sure our God was well pleased. - Russell Frolick

Read
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, 
he enables me to go on the heights.
For the director of music.
On my stringed instruments.

Hebrews 5:8
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered

Question to Ponder
Why do we try to avoid difficulties and trials?
How can our suffering reveal God and His glory to others?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue