Unwavering in the Waiting

Habakkuk climbed to the top of the watchtower and looked out over the city. His eyes scanned over the houses and streets filled with God’s children, the Israelites. His heart grew heavy as he watched them.

“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 destruction and violence.
I am surrounded by people
who love to argue and fight” (Habakkuk 1:1-3, NLT).

Little by little, the people had completely forgotten what they were waiting for. They moved further and further away from God and His Truth. They no longer cared about God or His promise to save them. And though it broke Habakkuk’s heart to watch them, he still cried out to God. He held on to the answer God had given to him:

“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told” (Habakkuk 1:5).

So Habakkuk waited and watched. He stood unwavering in his faith, even in the silence. He refused to give up.

This is a season of waiting. As we anticipate Christmas, we prepare. There are decorations and food, gifts to give, and celebrations all along the way. It all leads up to the culmination of Christmas. There’s joy in the waiting.

But sometimes our seasons of waiting aren’t full of great hope. They bring grief and sorrow. We get discouraged or even confused. The waiting can be so long that we forget we are even waiting at all. Life gets busy and, before we know it, we’re just going through the motions of life.

What are you waiting for? Is there a promise you’ve held onto, an unanswered prayer that you are afraid to voice out loud? Do you ever feel, like Habakkuk, that God is not listening to the cry of your heart?

Do not give up in the waiting. Even when you can’t see it, God is doing His work. Keep on watching and rejoicing, believing that soon your waiting will turn to wonder, and you will be astonished at what God has done.