In this race of life there are all kinds of events; good, bad, shortage, abundance, disease, full health, life simply has all its moments and it is good to take advantage of each one of them and know how to give glory and honor to our God in the midst of desolation and joy, because in all these moments it is proven who are truly servants of God.
The Bible tells us about a man named Habakkuk, who was a prophet of God at a time when the people of Judah had turned away from God and God was going to give them to the Babylonians, so, in the midst of the prayer that the prophet does in chapter three of his book, he sees how desolate Judah would be, how it was going to lack everything for the nation for the full punishment of God, and so he pronounces the following words:
16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:16-18
Habakkuk knew the desolation that would soon come upon the nation, however, he trusted the Lord in spite of all this, he rejoiced in God despite what was coming, he rejoiced, because he knew that his salvation came from the Almighty God.
What do we do when we are in the midst of adversity? Do we trust God enough? O beloved brothers, even if we lack food, clothing, that we have a bad economic situation, illness, whatever, even with all this we have to rejoice in the God of our salvation, because He is our only hope and in Him we have to wait and trust.
It is easy to rejoice when everything goes well, when there is abundance, when our strength is intact, or when the path appears clear and secure. However, true faith is revealed in those moments in which we have no apparent reason to celebrate. Just as Habakkuk looked beyond the desolation and saw the unchanging character of God, we too must learn to lift our eyes to the One who remains sovereign even when everything around us collapses.
The prophet understood that joy does not depend on circumstances, but on the assurance of who God is. He anticipated barren fields, empty stalls, and a devastated land, yet he declared that his joy would remain firm. This teaches us that Christian joy is not naïve optimism nor denial of reality; it is the result of seeing life through the lens of God’s eternal promises.
Many times we find ourselves in situations where resources fail, where doctor’s reports discourage us, or where the future appears uncertain. Yet, just like Habakkuk, we are called to fix our hearts on the salvation that God has already secured for us. The Lord has never promised a life free from problems, but He has promised His presence, His strength, and His faithful love in every valley we walk through.
In those moments of hardship, instead of complaining or doubting, our souls must cling to the truth that God is our provider and sustainer. Just as the prophet decided to rejoice even before the calamity came, we are also invited to make a decision of faith: to worship in advance, trusting that God is working in ways we cannot yet see.
Let us remember that the joy of the believer is rooted not in what he possesses, but in who possesses him. We belong to God, and that alone is enough reason to live with gratitude and confidence. Even if the world shakes around us, our foundation remains firm. Therefore, may our hearts learn to say like Habakkuk: “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,” for He is, today and always, the God of our salvation.