Brief Summary
This video explores how to handle difficult times by examining the book of Habakkuk. It emphasises the importance of "waiting on the Lord," which involves patience, perspective, obedience, a God-centric focus, and joyful faith. The speaker explains that patience comes from humility and a commitment to personal growth, while perspective involves viewing problems in light of God's promises. Obedience means maintaining one's duty even when feeling discouraged, and a God-centric focus means loving God for who He is, not just for what He provides. The video concludes by highlighting the joyful anticipation of Christ serving believers, drawing parallels to His sacrifice on the cross.
- Waiting on the Lord involves patience, perspective, obedience, a God-centric focus and joyful faith.
- Patience comes from humility and a commitment to personal growth.
- Perspective involves viewing problems in light of God's promises.
- Obedience means maintaining one's duty even when feeling discouraged.
- A God-centric focus means loving God for who He is, not just for what He provides.
Introduction: Facing Evil Times with Habakkuk
The book of Habakkuk offers guidance on facing evil times, a theme relevant because societies often assume that progress is constant, which isn't always the case. History, including the difficult period of 1910-1945 and the current economic recession, demonstrates that evil times do occur. By understanding books like Habakkuk and Job, individuals can prepare themselves, recognising that even in disaster, God is at work and there are ways to cope. Habakkuk begins with a complaint about the evil in society, to which God responds that it will worsen with the invasion of the Babylonians, leading Habakkuk to seek further understanding and wait for God's second answer.
The Skill of Waiting on the Lord
Waiting on the Lord is a key theme in the Bible and a crucial skill for handling difficult times. This concept, though often mentioned, lacks clear understanding. The Bible provides a rich meaning to it, outlining at least five aspects: waiting patiently, perspectively, obediently, God-centrically, and joyfully.
Waiting Patiently: Humility and Personal Growth
Waiting on the Lord begins with patience, as God tells Habakkuk that revelation will come but may take time, requiring him to "wait for it." This means not giving up or despairing but remaining patient even when things don't make sense. Patience stems from humility, acknowledging that we don't know everything and that our feelings of anger, despair, worry, and fear often arise from an assumption of our own omniscience. Patience also comes from viewing difficulties as opportunities for personal growth, turning disappointments into positive character development. Meeting disappointments with patience allows you to become a person of character and poise.
Waiting Perspectively: Seeing the Bigger Picture
Waiting on the Lord also means waiting perspectively, symbolised by Habakkuk stationing himself on a tower to see what's coming. Spiritually, this means not just looking at the immediate problem but putting it into the broader perspective of biblical truth. Paul's statement in Romans 8, that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which will be revealed, illustrates this. By meditating on the coming glory, sufferings become more manageable. This involves actively thinking about the glory until it changes your perspective on suffering.
Waiting Obediently: Maintaining Your Duty
Waiting on the Lord includes being obedient, which Habakkuk illustrates by standing at his watch like a sentry. This means maintaining one's duty regardless of feelings or circumstances. Even when feeling weary, God seems absent, or prayers go unanswered, one must not abandon their post. Waiting means serving, continuing to do what one should, such as attending worship, praying, reading the Bible, and serving others, even when not feeling motivated. It also means avoiding actions known to be wrong, resisting the temptation to seek temporary relief through harmful behaviours. Jane Eyre's moral stance exemplifies this obedience, choosing principle over personal desire.
Waiting God-Centrically: Loving God for Who He Is
Waiting on the Lord means waiting God-centrically, focusing on God Himself rather than His answers or rewards. This is similar to the Book of Job, where Satan questions whether Job serves God for nothing. True faith involves loving God for who He is, remaining faithful even when receiving nothing in return. Difficult times provide an opportunity to transform a self-interested relationship with God into genuine love. By staying with God through struggles, individuals become servants who love Him simply because He is God.
Waiting Joyfully: Faith in Redemptive Purposes
Waiting on the Lord also involves waiting joyfully, living by faith in the redemptive purposes of God. This means being affected by what God has done through Jesus Christ, rather than being overwhelmed by current circumstances. Jesus' parable in Luke 12:37 illustrates this, promising that those found waiting will be served by the Lord Himself. This promise is guaranteed by Jesus' past actions, such as washing the feet of His disciples and sacrificing Himself on the cross. Seeing Christ's willingness to wait on humanity empowers believers to wait on Him with joy, leading to perfect freedom.
