The book of Habakkuk is one of the shortest books in the Bible. It begins with the writer’s laments over Israel’s troubles but concludes with a beautiful affirmation of faith: “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!”1
During the coronavirus crisis, my first reaction was to panic, doubt, and despair. But seeing that people in my prayer groups were posting songs of praise and words of thankfulness, I realized, like the Old Testament prophet, that praising God through this adversity was the way to victory.
I also listened to James Taylor’s biography about his troubled family and loss of loved ones. He affirms that songwriting was his way of healing whenever these sad events would come in his life. Much like another famous musician, Eric Clapton, who after grieving the death of his young boy for almost a year, decided to make a song in the memory of his child. He composed “Tears in Heaven,” which became a big hit and has been a source of consolation for many through the years!
After being locked in due to COVID-19 for about two months, my son and I decided to go to the beach to see the sunset. There was no one in the area where we parked, and we were able to watch the marvelous sunset over the sea, walk in the wet sand, run from the waves, talk, take pictures, and enjoy a connection with nature that had been missing for so long.
As we were leaving, my son noticed an older couple sitting on the veranda of their home bordering the sand. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” my son commented, to which they replied: “Yes, and a different show every day!”
Right away those verses of Habakkuk came to mind, and they made perfect sense for the first time. God is good all the time! “From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is.”2 It’s in rejoicing in Jesus and His goodness that we draw our strength!