Yet I Will Rejoice!

Recently, I was flipping through my Bible when I found this passage in Habakkuk: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Hab 3:17-18) Habakkuk was still rejoicing in the Lord even when things weren't going his way! I thought this was really interesting and it encouraged me to take a more positive look at my own life. I think that Joy and thanksgiving come from knowing that God has everything under control and that he will take care of us in spite of our current circumstances. Paul went through a great deal of suffering and persecution for serving Christ and yet he wrote Philippians "The Joy Book" of the Bible from prison! He trusted that God had a purpose for what was going on and he just believed he had a plan. I think there are times in our lives when everything just seems to be going wrong, when we begin to wonder if we can even celebrate thanksgiving because of all the hard things that are happening. I don't believe that these things should affect our joy or our thanksgiving. I am not trying to dismiss what might be happening in your life but what I am saying is that this is all temporary and while it may make us happy for everything to be going well, joy is way more permanent and can turn our grieving into dancing and our darkest night into our brightest morning. Joy comes from knowing that you are cherished by the God of the universe, that he hasn't forgotten you but is instead sending some trials your way in order to refine you and develop you. God will never leave or forsake us so here is my version of what Habakkuk said: Though my Dad's job is in jeopardy and I worry about my future,though the fridge leaks and the floor is starting to sag, though my room is a mess and my schoolwork takes forever, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior! As thanksgiving comes up, it is important to remember that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something to be thankful about; do you have an awesome family? A great job? A home? Clothes? A personal savior who gave his life to cleanse you from your sins? Are you breathing right now? I'm willing to bet that at least a few of these thing apply to you, so to be blue, be joyful and thank God for what he has done for you!