Trusting in the God Trusting in the God of the Unexpectedof the Unexpected

Habakkuk 3:1-19Habakkuk 3:1-19

Lewis WinklerLewis Winkler

Habakkuk 1:1-2:20 in ReviewHabakkuk 1:1-2:20 in Review God is going to use ungodly Babylon to God is going to use ungodly Babylon to

punish unfaithful Israel, but Babylon will punish unfaithful Israel, but Babylon will also be judged in God’s time and way.also be judged in God’s time and way.

In the meantime, the godly are called to In the meantime, the godly are called to patiently live by faith and trust in God’s patiently live by faith and trust in God’s faithfulness and sovereignty.faithfulness and sovereignty.

““But the Lord is in His holy But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.” silent before Him.” —verse 20—verse 20

Habakkuk 3:1-2: A Prayer of Habakkuk 3:1-2: A Prayer of FaithFaith and Request for and Request for MercyMercy

Habakkuk stands in reverent fear of God’s Habakkuk stands in reverent fear of God’s past deeds.past deeds.

Habakkuk recalls that such deeds included Habakkuk recalls that such deeds included both the wrath and the mercy of God.both the wrath and the mercy of God.

Habakkuk calls on God to be merciful to Habakkuk calls on God to be merciful to Israel.Israel.

US White US White House Press House Press Secretary Secretary Tony Snow Tony Snow in 2006in 2006

Tony Snow: Reflections on Having Tony Snow: Reflections on Having CancerCancer

Blessings arrive in unexpected packages, - in my case, Blessings arrive in unexpected packages, - in my case, cancer. Those of us with potentially fatal diseases find cancer. Those of us with potentially fatal diseases find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God’s will. Although it mortality while trying to fathom God’s will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence “What It All Means,” Scripture provides confidence “What It All Means,” Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations.powerful hints and consolations.

The first is that we shouldn’t spend too much time trying The first is that we shouldn’t spend too much time trying to answer the “why” questions: Why me? Why must to answer the “why” questions: Why me? Why must people suffer? Why can’t someone else get sick? We people suffer? Why can’t someone else get sick? We can’t answer such things, and the questions themselves can’t answer such things, and the questions themselves often are designed more to express our anguish than to often are designed more to express our anguish than to solicit an answer.solicit an answer.

Tony Snow: Reflections on Having Tony Snow: Reflections on Having CancerCancer

I don’t know why I have cancer, and I don’t much care. It I don’t know why I have cancer, and I don’t much care. It is what it is, a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while is what it is, a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out. Our bodies give out.

But despite this, or because of it, God offers the But despite this, or because of it, God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don’t know how possibility of salvation and grace. We don’t know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face.meet our Creator face-to-face.

Habakkuk 3:3-15: Seeing God Habakkuk 3:3-15: Seeing God through through HistoryHistory ( (HisHis story) story)

God Displays His God Displays His PowerPower (3-7) (3-7)

Habakkuk 3:3-15: Seeing God Habakkuk 3:3-15: Seeing God through through HistoryHistory ( (HisHis story) story)

God Displays His God Displays His WrathWrath (8-15) (8-15)

Joshua 10:12-14Joshua 10:12-14

Tony Snow: Reflections on Having Tony Snow: Reflections on Having CancerCancer

When Jesus was faced with the When Jesus was faced with the prospect of crucifixion, He grieved not prospect of crucifixion, He grieved not for Himself, but for us. He cried for for Himself, but for us. He cried for Jerusalem before entering the holy city. Jerusalem before entering the holy city. From the Cross, He took on the From the Cross, He took on the cumulative burden of human sin and cumulative burden of human sin and weakness, and begged for forgiveness weakness, and begged for forgiveness on our behalf.on our behalf.

Habakkuk 3:16-19: Trusting God in Habakkuk 3:16-19: Trusting God in HistoryHistory ( (HisHis story) story)

Habakkuk waits with Habakkuk waits with fearfear and and tremblingtrembling (16). (16).

Tony Snow: Reflections on Having Tony Snow: Reflections on Having CancerCancerThe natural reaction is to turn to God and ask him The natural reaction is to turn to God and ask him to serve as a cosmic Santa. “Dear God, make it to serve as a cosmic Santa. “Dear God, make it all go away. Make everything simpler.” But all go away. Make everything simpler.” But another voice whispers: “You have been called.” another voice whispers: “You have been called.” The moment you enter the Valley of the Shadow The moment you enter the Valley of the Shadow of Death, things change. You discover that of Death, things change. You discover that Christianity is not something doughy, passive, Christianity is not something doughy, passive, pious, and softpious, and soft. Faith may be the substance of . Faith may be the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But it also draws you into a world shorn of fearful But it also draws you into a world shorn of fearful caution. caution. The life of belief teems with thrills, The life of belief teems with thrills, boldness, danger, shocks, reversals, triumphs, boldness, danger, shocks, reversals, triumphs, and epiphaniesand epiphanies..

Habakkuk 3:16-19: Trusting God in Habakkuk 3:16-19: Trusting God in HistoryHistory ( (HisHis story) story)

Habakkuk waits with Habakkuk waits with faithfaith and and joyjoy (17-19). (17-19).

Tony Snow: Reflections on Having Tony Snow: Reflections on Having CancerCancer

Even though God doesn’t promise us tomorrow, he Even though God doesn’t promise us tomorrow, he does promise us eternity, filled with life and love we does promise us eternity, filled with life and love we cannot comprehend, and that one can, in the throes cannot comprehend, and that one can, in the throes of sickness, point the rest of us toward timeless of sickness, point the rest of us toward timeless truths that will help us weather future storms.truths that will help us weather future storms.

Through such trials, God bids us to choose: Do we Through such trials, God bids us to choose: Do we believe, or do we not? Will we be bold enough to believe, or do we not? Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our limitations? Can we surrender our concern in limitations? Can we surrender our concern in things that don’t matter so that we might devote our things that don’t matter so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do?remaining days to things that do?

““I will rejoice in the Lord. I will I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior. be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my The Sovereign Lord is my strength. . . .” strength. . . .” —verses 18-19—verses 18-19

Conclusion and Application:Conclusion and Application:

It’s okay to be afraid sometimes.It’s okay to be afraid sometimes.

Faith involves:Faith involves:

Reflecting on God’s faithfulness demonstrated in the BibleReflecting on God’s faithfulness demonstrated in the Bible

Reflecting on God’s faithfulness demonstrated both in your own life Reflecting on God’s faithfulness demonstrated both in your own life and in the lives of othersand in the lives of others

Reaffirming your trust and hope that God is and will always be faithfulReaffirming your trust and hope that God is and will always be faithful—no matter what!—no matter what!

He will empower us to navigate any challenge in life which He will empower us to navigate any challenge in life which comes our way if turn our hearts and minds toward Him.comes our way if turn our hearts and minds toward Him.

Tony Snow: Reflections on Having Tony Snow: Reflections on Having CancerCancer

There’s nothing wilder than a life of humble virtueThere’s nothing wilder than a life of humble virtue , - for it is , - for it is through selflessness and service that God wrings from our through selflessness and service that God wrings from our bodies and spirits the most we ever could give, the most bodies and spirits the most we ever could give, the most we ever could offer, and the most we ever could do. we ever could offer, and the most we ever could do. God God relishes surpriserelishes surprise. We want lives of simple, predictable . We want lives of simple, predictable ease, smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see, but ease, smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see, but God God likes to go off-roadlikes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. . He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance; and comprehension and yet don’t. By His love endurance; and comprehension and yet don’t. By His love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise.experience otherwise.

Tony Snow: Reflections on Having Tony Snow: Reflections on Having CancerCancer

We don’t know much, but we know this: We don’t know much, but we know this: No matter where we are, no matter what No matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter how bleak or frightening we do, no matter how bleak or frightening our prospects, each and every one of us our prospects, each and every one of us who believe, each and every day, lies in who believe, each and every day, lies in the same safe and impregnable place, in the same safe and impregnable place, in the hollow of God’s hand.the hollow of God’s hand.

Tony Snow Tony Snow 1955-20081955-2008

““Faithful”Faithful”by Steven Curtis Chapmanby Steven Curtis Chapman

I am brokenI am brokenI am bleedingI am bleeding

I am scared and I’m confusedI am scared and I’m confusedBut You are faithfulBut You are faithfulYes, You are faithfulYes, You are faithful

I am wearyI am wearyUnbelievingUnbelieving

God please help my unbeliefGod please help my unbeliefCuz You are faithfulCuz You are faithfulYes, You are faithfulYes, You are faithful

““Faithful”Faithful”by Steven Curtis Chapmanby Steven Curtis Chapman

I will proclaim it to the worldI will proclaim it to the worldI will declare it to my heartI will declare it to my heart

Sing it when the sun is shiningSing it when the sun is shiningI will scream it in the darkI will scream it in the dark

You are faithfulYou are faithful

You are faithfulYou are faithful

““Faithful”Faithful”by Steven Curtis Chapmanby Steven Curtis Chapman

When You give and when You take awayWhen You give and when You take awayEven then still Your name remainsEven then still Your name remains

FaithfulFaithful

You are faithfulYou are faithfulAnd with everything inside of meAnd with everything inside of me

I am choosing to believeI am choosing to believeYou are faithfulYou are faithful

““Faithful”Faithful”by Steven Curtis Chapmanby Steven Curtis Chapman

I am waiting for the rescueI am waiting for the rescueThat I know is sure to comeThat I know is sure to come

Cuz You are faithful Cuz You are faithful Yes You are faithfulYes You are faithful

I’ve dropped anchor in Your promisesI’ve dropped anchor in Your promisesAnd I am holding onAnd I am holding onCuz You are faithfulCuz You are faithfulGod, You are faithfulGod, You are faithful

““Faithful”Faithful”by Steven Curtis Chapmanby Steven Curtis Chapman

I will proclaim it to the worldI will proclaim it to the worldI will declare it to my heartI will declare it to my heart

Sing it when the sun is shiningSing it when the sun is shiningI will scream it in the darkI will scream it in the dark

You are faithfulYou are faithfulYou are faithfulYou are faithful

““Faithful”Faithful”by Steven Curtis Chapmanby Steven Curtis Chapman

When You give and when You take awayWhen You give and when You take awayEven then still Your name remainsEven then still Your name remains

FaithfulFaithful

You are faithfulYou are faithfulAnd with everything inside of meAnd with everything inside of me

I am choosing to believeI am choosing to believeYou’re faithfulYou’re faithful

So faithfulSo faithful

““Faithful”Faithful”by Steven Curtis Chapmanby Steven Curtis Chapman

When I cannot have the answersWhen I cannot have the answersAnd I’m wanting to demandAnd I’m wanting to demandI’ll remember You are GodI’ll remember You are God

And everything is in Your handsAnd everything is in Your hands

With Your hands You put the sun and moonWith Your hands You put the sun and moonAnd stars up in the skyAnd stars up in the sky

For the sake of loveFor the sake of loveYou hung Your own Son on the cross to dieYou hung Your own Son on the cross to die

““Faithful”Faithful”by Steven Curtis Chapmanby Steven Curtis Chapman

You are faithfulYou are faithfulYes, You are faithfulYes, You are faithful

When You give; when You take awayWhen You give; when You take awayEven then great is Your faithfulnessEven then great is Your faithfulness

Great is Your faithfulnessGreat is Your faithfulnessAnd with everything inside of meAnd with everything inside of me

I am choosing to believeI am choosing to believeYou are faithfulYou are faithful

““Faithful”Faithful”by Steven Curtis Chapmanby Steven Curtis Chapman

OhhhOhhhWhen You give and when You take awayWhen You give and when You take away

Even then still Your name isEven then still Your name isFaithfulFaithful

You are faithfulYou are faithfulAnd with everything inside of meAnd with everything inside of me

I am choosing to believeI am choosing to believeYou are faithfulYou are faithful