“When I Am Falling Apart”
Habakkuk 3:1-19
Sermon Series: “Where Is God?”
Introduction: Habakkuk’s nation was falling apart (v. 17-18), and there is even a sense in which he was falling apart (v. 16). He was very realistic about his circumstances. Yet, he made one of the greatest confessions of faith that is recorded in all the pages of Scripture. How was he able to trust God even when he was falling apart? I believe it is because even though he was extremely realistic about his circumstances that he saw beyond his circumstances to some key spiritual realities that are more powerful than our circumstances. Here are five spiritual realities that we can hang on to even when we feel like we are falling apart. I am presenting them in the first person in the hope that each of us will claim them as personal convictions that we base our lives on during our trials.
1. God’s perfect character is not changed by my difficult circumstances (v. 3-15). God is:
A. Holy (v. 3)
B. Glorious (v. 3-4)
C. Powerful (v. 4-15)
D. Savior (v. 8, 12-13, 18)
2. God’s past faithfulness demonstrates that He will be faithful during my present circumstances (v. 3-15).
A. We see His faithfulness to His people down through the years recorded in Scripture. One of the reasons it is so important to know Scripture is that we see how God works in the lives of people, including during trials.
B. We can also remember His faithfulness to us personally in the past and count on the fact that He will continue to be faithful to us in the present and future because that is His nature.
3. God is in control even when it feels like I am falling apart (v. 16). God’s sovereignty is one of the major themes of the book of Habakkuk. It is hard for us to understand how God being in control and times being difficult fit together, but if God is not in control, we have no hope. Remember that God lets us make choices, but He is still working out His perfect plans.
4. God will be my joy even when life does not make me happy (v. 17-18). Habakkuk chose to rejoice in the Lord. We can do that during our trials. God is always worthy of worship. Plus, worship changes us. It can replace our fear and worry with peace and joy. Happiness is an emotion, but joy is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.
5. God will be my strength and lead me to victory even when I am weak (v. 19). As is recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:9, Jesus said to the Apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Are we relying on our own strength and ability or the Lord’s? Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Conclusion: From the study of this book, we see that life often does not make sense, that it always seems like the wicked are winning, and we sometimes feel like we are falling apart. However, we also see that God is in control, is with His people, and is working out His good plans for us. We do not like trials, but they are inevitable. The real issue is whether or not we will trust God during our trials. I hope that we will choose to declare that we will live by faith no matter what happens because of who God is and what He does for us.
