Nancy Taylor Tate
Habakkuk had a lot of “how long” and “why” questions which, fortunately, he took to God in prayer. Rather than answer those specific questions, God further revealed Himself to Habakkuk, then told Habakkuk that the just live by faith — faith, in the faithfulness of God (Habakkuk 2:4).
As Habakkuk thought on the faithfulness of God, faith sprang up in his heart, and his questions faded. Habakkuk went from questioning God to worshipping Him in faith, expectation, and hope.
This is the place of trust the Lord is calling us up into today! When things happen that we just don’t understand, we can position ourselves to rest in His faithfulness. We too live by faith — in the faithfulness of God.
We also receive comfort, rest, and encouragement as we learn to focus on and receive His love.
Years ago, I was praying through a deep, unexpected hurt. The Lord not only brought forgiveness into my heart, He revealed His love to me. One thing I am confident of today, God loves me! He loves you too!
God’s love knows no limits! Paul said, “who can separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35).
Then he went on to say: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
When I pray with people, at times they express a desire to feel love — to know God’s love. It’s not enough to be loved, we have to come to know that love if we are going to be recipients of it in a meaningful way.
Paul prayed that we would come to know the love of God:
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” Ephesians 3:17-19.
We can pray and believe for this too! How wonderful to live knowing you are loved! To be able to be loved and love in return — this is God’s plan for each of us, to know His love, then share His love with others.
These verses express my prayer for you:
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen” 2 Corinthians 13:14.
“And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ” 2 Thessalonians 3:5.
May His love touch you today with a deeper awareness that you are loved! May His love continue to unfold and bless you in every way.