In our Sunday School class this past Sunday, we spent time in the book of Habakkuk. One of the conversations that took place was on the aspect of being “joyful” in the midst of trials…mainly flowing from Habakkuk’s faith-filled prayer at the end of the short, three-chapter book.
Habakkuk prayed (3:17-18),
“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.”
It was a good conversation – one in which I’m sure many identified…I know I did.
For me, most things in life trigger memories of songs and this conversation certainly did. It reminded me of this interpretation of the old Vacation Bible School song “Down In My Heart” – AKA “Joy”:
Before you pass judgment, please read the story (& come back…and maybe re-listen):
*Joy
When I first wrote, or I should say re-wrote, “Joy” I had no idea the
wave it would make. I have received countless emails, questions, and
comments on this one song, several with the similar theme of “she sure
does not sound joyful to me!” I’ve even had people tell me that they
did not finish the song but skipped it because it sounded too
depressing and confused them in contrast to the rest of the Hymns-I
record. If perchance you are someone that has not finished the song
yet please listen through the end. It would be like starting a story
and never finishing it. [continue reading]
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The last line of Habakkuk’s prayer is key:
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. (3:19)
On my own, I can’t conjure up enough “joy” to pray Habakkuk’s prayer in the midst of trials – maybe you can…I can’t. (That said, many of us can fake it pretty well…) To earnestly say that prayer, verse 19 is key. It is only by and through God’s strength that we can be joyful in the midst of even the “simplest” of trials – if they exist.
I so appreciate the comment below from the artist’s song story:
“…joy is not simply an expression, but an attitude and acknowledgment of the deep peace of knowing a Savior.”
Amen & Maranatha!
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