I came across one of my favorite verses the other day and it felt so good to be reminded.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains. Habakkuk 3:19
In my job, I sometimes have to go to Court and play AV tech. I say “play” because I’m no expert. For those who know me well, you know that AV frustrates me. Nevertheless, it’s required. It makes me so tense to be called on to display a document and all in the room looking to me to make it happen. If you’ve every operated a computer, an ipad, a smartphone or even a dumbphone, you know that things don’t always go exactly how they are supposed to. A document won’t open, an error message pops up, wifi goes down, the wrong webpage comes up, the wrong text is sent, the link won’t open, you butt dial somebody. That’s just the way tech works. It’s life changing when it works and life changing when it doesn’t. I know, that’s a little dramatic.
Anyway, I’ve had a occasion over the last weeks to spend some time in Court and am headed that way again next week. My job is to project documents for those in the room to see. The information on these documents is pivotal to the issues before the Court. So, there’s absolutely no pressure there, right? Wrong! Now I tell myself all those things like – I’ll do my best and that’s got to be good enough – I can’t control everything and that’s ok – If the technology doesn’t work right (or I don’t work it right) it won’t be the end of the world — If I mess up they won’t cut my arm off – I’m human I make mistakes too – etc., etc.
But, the most comforting thing I tell myself is that God will make me as sure-footed as a deer and bring me safely over the mountain. In fact, I have this written on a post it and taped to my keyboard. I cannot look at my laptop in Court, I can’t attempt to project a document, without seeing that verse and boy has it saved me from a world of panic.
I came across the verse in my Prayer Book again today, only the reference backed it up a bit. Instead of just verse 19, it started at verse 17 and that gave even greater perspective:
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; 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.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Talk about some difficult times, this is a little more devastating than a tech glitch. We’re talking the potential starvation of a nation. This would be terrifying, and is, to any nation. But, Habakkuk would not be controlled by his feelings or the events going on around him. Even though the troubles were seemingly insurmountable, Habakkuk looked to the strength of the God of his salvation! In fact, he didn’t just have faith in the God of his salvation, He rejoiced in the God of his salvation!
Do we rejoice in the God of our salvation during difficult times, during trying times, during scary times, during stormy times? We should – this is where Brother Paul’s training lesson comes in handy. Human nature (sinful nature) is to get bogged down in the difficulties, the trying and the scary. But, we need to take our eyes off of the difficulties, the trying and the scary, and look to God. He will give us strength in those difficult times. He will make us sure-footed, He will give us hind’s feet, so that we can safely navigate the rough terrain we must travel, with Joy!
So, I think I’ll add to my post it the word “Rejoice.” Bringing us safely over the mountain doesn’t mean that the terrain is less dangerous, that the terrain less steep, it means exactly what it says, He’ll bring us safely over the mountain. Having faith in the God of our salvation that He will do what He says He will do should cause us to rejoice, regardless of the terrain we traverse.
The literal is “I will jump for joy in the Lord; I will spin around for delight in God.” Here is the hilarity of faith!—joy at its best with circumstances at their worst! What a victory! May it be yours!
Sidlow Baxter
So, may you twirl with absolute joy in the God of your salvation as His strength brings you safely over the mountain!