When it is the end of a year I like to take some time and reflect on all that transpired. This year for sure will go down as one to always remember. The danger is that we can reflect and have the wrong perspective.
I am reminded of the prophet Habakkuk who was around during an interesting time in Judah’s history. He prayed for God to turn Judah’s spiritual heart around. They were neglecting God, worshipping false images, not taking care of the widows and orphans, and the list goes on.
God answers his prayer but not the way he liked it. God told the prophet that he would do something. He was going to judge Judah by sending the Babylonians to judge them.
The prophet had a hard time with this. He would respond to God by saying, “How could you send a more wicked nation to judge a not so wicked nation?”
God responded again to the prophet. He didn’t give him a list of reasons but did point to his sovereignty. Habakkuk then responded with this praise to God.
“I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places”
(Habakkuk 3:16-19).
The prophet had the right perspective. It is my prayer as we close this year and go forward in 2021 that though the future seems uncertain we can praise the Lord. Though things may be bleak or hard or blurry, I will rejoice in the Lord!