"Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls — Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills." (Hab 3:17–19 NKJV)

Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin—names synonymous with infamous deeds, actions and ways. In Habakkuk’s day (and Isaiah’s and Hosea’s and others), the names were Rezin, Pekah, Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar—kings of earth that threatened others, who enslaved millions, who took Israel into captivity and were used by God to punish His people.

Today we have high gas prices. Gas prices translate into higher items on groceries and other goods. The cost of living is skyrocketing, but our paychecks do not match up. People think they deserve what they cannot buy, so they steal or even kill to get what they cannot otherwise have. In Habakkuk’s day the problem was no food in the field, the flocks were cut off and there were no herds from which they could gain sustenance.

Things have not changed in 2500–3000 years, have they? Maybe we can argue that their problems were smaller or more insignificant than ours, yet that is because we live with our problems. I am sure that if we lived in their days, we would argue that their problems were worse than those today. But what is the answer?

Habakkuk mentioned that even though there was no food, nor was there any hope of getting any soon, he was still going to rejoice in the Lord. He was still going to have joy in God, because He knew God as a God of salvation. He knew that despite the problems, God would strengthen him and make him walk on the high hills around Jerusalem once again.

What do we do when we face hard times? Lose our faith? These are hard times. These troublesome times test our faith and make it stronger. We need these tribulations so that we will grow in DEPENDANCE on the Lord. We see that we cannot make it on our own. We know that we can’t be INDEPENDENT, and make it. We need GOD!

A Christian should be rejoicing, no matter the problems. That means that the joy comes from within, not from external things. We find strength to continue on in the Lord. While others are lamenting their difficulties, Christians rejoice because they know God is working this out for their good (Romans 8:28).

No matter what, keep your faith in the Lord. Know that He is still the God of our salvation and strength. No matter who tries to run the world, GOD is still Sovereign and in control.