Good morning and welcome to Starting Right . I am Danny Mac and I'm going to be here every Monday to Friday to help you get a great start to your day . So grab your cup of coffee , sit back and relax for the next five minutes as I help you start your day by starting right .
In the Old Testament , book of Habakkuk , we see this conversation between the prophet and with God , and Habakkuk is confused . He is uncertain as to why God has not heard his prayer . He starts off the conversation like this how long , o Lord , must I call for help but you do not listen ? Violence is everywhere . I cry , but you do not come to save .
Must I forever see these evil deeds ? Why must I watch all this misery ? Wherever I look , I see violence and destruction . I'm surrounded by people who love to argue and fight . The law has become paralyzed and there is no justice in the courts . The wicked far outnumber the righteous , so that justice has become perverted .
Habakkuk was calling out to God from Jerusalem , decrying the state of his country . They were surrounded by enemies who were coming to destroy them . There was corruption and sexual immorality within their nation . The worship of gods of any kind had become prominent within the country and the worship of the true God had been minimized .
He's saying Lord , why is this happening ? Why do you not hear our prayers ? Why are you allowing this to continue ? This doesn't make sense , lord . Where are you and why aren't you answering ? Where is our help ? God responds and promises Habakkuk the answer will come and that God will not abandon his people .
In the second chapter , god tells the prophet the answer may seem slow in coming , but wait patiently . It will surely take place and it will not be denied . God gives his assurance to Habakkuk that yes , the answer will come . Just trust and just hang on . The entire book is this conversation back and forth between Habakkuk and God .
And as we get to the end of the book , in chapter 3 , habakkuk has resolved within himself how he is going to respond to the situation , how he's going to look at all the things that are going on and all the destruction and all the things that are so bad right now . And yet he has chosen within himself how he wants to react to it .
He says in verse 17 , even if the fig tree does not bloom and the vines have no grapes , even if the olive tree fails to produce and theines have no grapes , even if the olive tree fails to produce and the fields yield no food , even if the sheep pen is empty and the stalls have no cattle , even then I will be happy with the Lord .
I will truly find joy in God who saves me . Habakkuk declares that although everything else may fail around him , he will continue to trust in God , because there is no affliction , however severe or however trying , that could ever separate us from the love of God .
My friend and author Terry Todd was speaking to a ladies group and referenced this portion of scripture , and she left the ladies by telling them this Do you see all the even ifs ? In that passage , the writer is telling us that we can rejoice in the middle of hardship and pain . I encourage you all to fill those even ifs with your own even ifs .
We all have them . Make a list , whatever yours might be , even if my marriage is broken , even if I am not receiving healing from an illness , even if I am still unemployed , even if I am not receiving healing from an illness , even if I am still unemployed , even if my loved one still has an addiction .
You all know what your even ifs are and maybe the list seems extra long , but once you know your list is done , add the even then part , like Habakkuk did . Even then I will be happy with the Lord . I will truly find joy in God who saves me . I encourage you all today make a list of your even ifs , all the things that you are waiting on .
You are waiting to find answers for that have not come yet , all the things that are really heavy upon you . Make a list of your even ifs , but then don't forget to add the even . Then I will be happy with the Lord . I will truly find joy in God who saves me . It will change how you see your problems . I guarantee it . Have a great day , my friends .
We'll talk again tomorrow . Thank you for listening today and I invite you to join me Monday to Friday , right here on Starting Right with Danny Mac .