17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17-18 ESV)
The tangible things that people used to produce are not as evident in life today. Much of what we do does not produce anything tangible like a crop or livestock. We, for the most part, do not work with our hands any more and those who do are doing so for others and not themselves. As such, we do not have the same relationship with the world or possibly to scriptural analogy.
However, it should be clear what is being conveyed. In our scripture, the writer is talking about being separated from all they know but still rejoicing in the Lord. When hard times befall us, do we still rejoice in the Lord? Is His provision enough for our lives that we continue to take joy in His salvation. At the end of the day it is really all that matters. One day we will be cut off from all that exist in this world. We will stand in heaven and rejoice in all that we have gained and not morn anything we might have lost.
Reflect on: Your relationship with all you have and with all you need, in God.
