Even Though...

We all have those days... you know the ones I'm talking about, the days when nothing goes as planned and all seems lost. We have days that are troubled by toil and trial. Other days are darkened by the deep shadows of loss and heartache. On those days, the days we don't like to speak of or admit the reality of to one another, what do we do?

The prophet Habakkuk speaks of such days. He writes in chapter 3, verses 17-18, "Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, YET I will exalt in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation."

Habakkuk is saying even though everything seems to be a mess, even though I have no great wealth and the labor of my hands produces nothing; even though the trees don't blossom, the fields produce no food and I have no flocks, I will exalt in the Lord and rejoice in His salvation. He can do so because the salvation of the Lord is sure and steadfast, regardless of our circumstances. The character of the Lord is such that we can exalt Him "even though" life hasn't exactly gone as planned.

Today, in the midst of your "even though" situations, take a moment to exalt in the Lord and rejoice in His salvation. Do not fear, do not anxiously look about you, for the Lord is with you. He will strengthen you, surely He will help you and uphold you with the right hand of His righteousness (Isaiah 41:10).