I
did....or maybe to make it more accurate - I do. Yes, I still do.
Not all the time but definitely more than once. I complained to God a couple of times. Before I share one of my ranting moments let me tell you about Habakkuk.
Not all the time but definitely more than once. I complained to God a couple of times. Before I share one of my ranting moments let me tell you about Habakkuk.
Habakkuk was an Old Testament prophet who lived in Judah. He lived in a country where the people did not obey God. He did not understand why God did nothing to correct his countrymen. He complained to God. He told God about the existence of destruction and violence. He cried to God about the absence of justice. How the evil overpowered the weak. He whined to God.
“O Lord, how
long must I call for help before you listen, before you save us from violence?”
– Habakkuk 1:2
Did you ever find yourself in a similar situation? When
everything around you seems to move from bad to worse. When you see no light at
the end of the tunnel; so you end up like Habakkuk. You complained to God also.
The story of Habakkuk does not end there. He receives a reply from God.
The story of Habakkuk does not end there. He receives a reply from God.
“I am bringing the Babylonians to power, those fierce, restless people. They are marching out across the world to conquer other lands. They spread fear and terror, and in their pride they are a law to themselves. Their horses are faster than leopards, fiercer than hungry wolves. Their cavalry troops come riding from distant lands; their horses paw the ground. They come swooping down like eagles attacking their prey.” - Habakkuk 1:6-8
When I read this I could envision the reaction of Habakkuk. I
imagined his facial expression changing. From an angry and complaining prophet to one who was filled with questions and fear. I would react the same way given the
description about the Babylons. Habakkuk prayed that God saves them from evil. But God's answer gives him more fear. This is why I think he
complained to God again.
“Lord, from the very beginning you are God. You are my God, holy and eternal. Lord, my God and protector, you have chosen the Babylonians and made them strong so that they can punish us. But how can you stand these treacherous, evil men? Your eyes are too holy to look at evil, and you cannot stand the sight of people doing wrong. So why are you silent while they destroy people who are more righteous than they are? How can you treat people like fish or like a swarm of insects that have no ruler to direct them? The Babylonians catch people with hooks, as though they were fish. They drag them off in nets and shout for joy over their catch! They even worship their nets and offer sacrifices to them, because their nets provide them with the best of everything. Are they going to use their swords forever and keep on destroying nations without mercy?” – Habakkuk 1:12-17
Complaining
is usually the first reaction when you don’t like what is happening. Even a prophet
like Habakkuk complained. In fact, in this story he complained twice on the
same chapter. But what I like about the story is that he was not satisfied with just
complaining. Habakkuk knew God would give him a reply.
“I will climb my watchtower and wait to see what the Lord will tell me to say and what answer He will give to my complaint.” – Habakkuk 2:1
Do
you grumble and do nothing? Sometimes we simply
complained and walk away. We don’t expect a solution. We simply complain, nag or grumble. Habakkuk is different. He believed that he would get an
explanation soon. And God replied to him with an assurance that those who love
God will not be harm.
“And this is the message: Those who are evil will not survive, but those who are righteous will live because they are faithful to God.” – Habakkuk 2:4
God will
always have authority over everything. Even if you don’t see or like what is
happening around you, God will always take care of His people. Your faith in
Him will save you. As the prophet Habakkuk wrote in 2:4, “righteous people will
live by their faith in God.”
Did
you ever have a “Habakkuk” experience? A situation where you complained to God
because you did not like what was happening.
But, after the crisis is over you realized that God was in control and
that He did not forget about you.
Let
me share with you one of my “Habakkuk” moments.
I
was looking for a new job a few years ago. At that time my current job was far
from my home. I always had to leave the house early and return home late. I
wanted a new job that was nearer our house so I can spend more time with my
family. So, I prayed to God about it. I
prepared a great C.V. and sent it to a lot of companies. I told my friends
about my plan and asked them to refer me if they saw opportunities. I prayed
about it daily. I applied in various companies via on-line or snail mail. Oh, by way did
I say that I prayed for it?
After
a couple of months, I was still in the same company. I did not get even one
reply from all the applications I sent out. My regular prayer time became a regular time to complain to God.
Then
it happened. I got a call from a headhunter agency. My qualifications met the
requirements of their client. I went through the whole process of examination,
interview and salary package negotiation. The parting words of the hiring
company’s president was, “you are very qualified and we will give you a call in
a few days after I finalized with our regional office”. The answer to my prayer will be fulfilled soon.
Or
maybe not. I spoke to soon. The days of waiting became weeks of waiting. I
called the agency a month after my last interview but they did not have any
update also. I began to complain to God again.
Why did You give me that
interview? Why did You make me excited about the blessing only to withdraw it back?
Unlike
Habakkuk I did not wait for a reply from God. I expressed my complaint and walk
away.
God
gave me a reply five months after.
I
was scanning through the business section of the newspaper when a story caught
my attention. It was a story about a company and their exit plans in the country. The company name
seems familiar but I could not recall exactly where I encountered it. The company was closing their local office because the market was not
that attractive. The statement was from the company’s president. I was shocked
when I read the president’s name. He was the same person who interviewed me six
months ago! It was then that I realized that I was unfair to God when I
complained to Him. If this company hired me, I would have ended up as jobless. God knew
what was best for me and He did not allow the hiring to push thru.
That experience taught me to
trust God at all times. You may not like what is happening now but trust that
God will always take care of you.
The story of Habakkuk only has
three chapters. I encourage you to take time to read it. Habakkuk writes a
psalm (or song to God) at the last chapter. The last part of the psalm says;
Even though the fig trees have no
fruit
and no grapes grow on the vines,
even though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no grain,
even though the sheep all die
and the cattle stalls are empty,
and no grapes grow on the vines,
even though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no grain,
even though the sheep all die
and the cattle stalls are empty,
I will still be joyful and glad,
because the Lord God is my savior.
because the Lord God is my savior.
The
Sovereign Lord gives me strength.
He makes me sure-footed as a deer
and keeps me safe on the mountains.
He makes me sure-footed as a deer
and keeps me safe on the mountains.
- Habakkuk 3:17–19
The core message of the prophet is simple. Whatever happens, praise God!
Stop complaining...Start praising Him!
