Job said –“Though He slay me, Yet will I Hope in Him…”- {Job 13:15}.
Habakkuk said, “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 exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places..” – {Habakkuk 3:17-19}.
These are colossal statements of faith from men who were under such extreme pressures of life. How easy it is to make great statements of faith and praise Him when all is going well circumstantially. But in the midst of the flames, in the furnace of affliction, to see these stripped of all but Him and to make these statements of faith and worship to Him, are men who have set their “will” to do something, “I WILL hope in Him…I WILL Exult in the LORD, I WILL rejoice in the God of my salvation.” In the trauma of their experiences, troubles, loss, they did not hope, exult, praise, thin air, but a Person- THE LORD. They ended with Him, anchored their hope in Him. Anchored their exulting, glorying in Him. Praising Him. It did not happen by chance but by choice!
Independent of the painful circumstances, choices were made, one thought, one choice at a time to act, “I will… I will…I will.” Whatever about others, the choice was personal responsibility taken in the flames of affliction!
What was it that caused them in the midst of such pain, to make these choices? They knew something of Him, the LORD.
His character, His wisdom and goodness trumped their troubles.
Jeremiah who was familiar with pain and suffering, reveals some reasons to trust, hope, exult, praise Him,- “but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving-kindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”-Jeremiah 9:24
Acquaint yourself with God. It is the greatest need of your and my heart and greatest endeavor we can pursue!
Memorize Jeremiah 9:24. Think on the Truth about Him, and when troubles come, go back to His character, THINK on Him, His Truth, Talk to Yourself The Truth. TRAIN yourself to THINK and choose to PRAISE HIM. Job, Habakkuk, Jeremiah testify to us today of Him. You are never on your own! What “will,” you choose? It will determine on Whom you focus and rest in! Feed your mind on Him and His truth! “I WILL hope in Him, I WILL exult in The LORD, I WILL Rejoice in the God of my salvation…” Focus on Him, feed and nourish your faith on His Word, it will sustain you in the furnace.
From The Debts Of Affliction- The Cry Of Faith, “I WILL..”