Honesty is one of the most valued things in a relationship. Yet with God we often try to tiptoe or hide our real feelings and emotions. More and more we have access to information. And more and more that information is filled with news of terrible natural disasters and horrible man-made tragedies. From earthquakes to fires to shootings and bombings, it’s all there. And we want answers. We want to yell and scream at God to make sense of it all for us. If you’re like me, you can’t help but ask when you see or hear of these things, “Why? Why doesn’t God stop terrible things like this?”
If you are or have ever been mad at God about something like that, then the book of Habakkuk is for you. Because Habakkuk was someone who wrestled with essentially the same question you have; “If God is good…and God is in control…why is the world the way it is?”
There’s a lot we can learn from Habakkuk, but the very first thing is that it’s OK to be honest with God about our feelings. He says in verse 2, “How long, Lord, must I call for help and You do not listen, or cry out to You about violence and You do not save?” (Habakkuk 1:2, HCSB). Keep reading and you’ll find that God wasn’t insulted by Habakukk’s honesty…He didn’t even flinch.
It’s natural to wonder when we don’t hear from God like we think we should or when we see disaster and injustice. God wants to hear our heart. He knows what we truly feel anyway so it’s time to quit pouting and quit pretending. Tell God what you really feel. Honesty is an essential part of any close relationship.
Be a witness,
Nate