But God

Monday, September 14, 2026 | Dick Patterson

Habakkuk 

Let me ask you this question: Can you remember a time when you were really struggling with your faith and wondering why God was not doing something about your situation? Well, I sure can. I’m not sure I can count how many times in my earlier years I found myself crying out to God, asking why. At times, I even argued with God about something not being right and basically told Him to fix it. Sure am glad I have outgrown all that nonsense. I hope! LOL.

Well, that is where we find our friend Habakkuk in chapters 1–2. He is crying out to God and complaining about everything happening within the nation of Judah. Once again, they had gone right back into sin, with little regard for honoring God or His law. Habakkuk wants to know how long he will have to witness all of it and when God will finally bring judgment.

God answers him in 1:5–11, but with an answer Habakkuk never imagined—and definitely did not like. God tells him He will bring judgment on Judah through the Chaldeans, or Babylonians. That does not sit well with Habakkuk, and he complains that Judah was bad, but the Babylonians were even worse. How could God use them? (1:12–2:1)

Then the Lord answers this complaint in 2:2–20, and we find a great truth in verse 2:4: “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”

God reminds Habakkuk that He knows all about the Babylonians’ sin, and they too will come under judgment. Then He reminds him in 2:20, “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”

It is so easy for us to be just like Habakkuk when things do not go our way or we do not understand how God could let bad things happen. When we find ourselves in that same mindset, we must remember that God is in control, and we are not. He is a good Father who loves us and knows the plans He has for us (Jer. 29:11).

After Habakkuk’s conversation with the Lord, he prays a beautiful prayer of remembrance and rejoicing. Maybe the next time we find ourselves doubting God, we can remember what Habakkuk did in 3:17–19 and respond in the same way.