The Biggest Lesson I Learned My First Year of Mamahood

The first lesson I learned after my Rosie entered this world: medical doctors are not as smart as I thought. 

Twenty-four hours after this tiny, feeble, mysterious, crying, fragile, pooping creature was placed in my arms, my O.B. tells me to take it home.

I’m sorry Dr., but is it not obvious to you? I have NO clue what’s going on here! 

I’m the girl who killed her goldfish after one week.

I’m the girl who burns every batch of cookies in the oven.

I’m the girl who drives off with her coffee mug sitting on the hood of her car multiple times a week.

And you are now entrusting ME with a human’s survival?

I thought you were a doctor!

I wanted to be so confident.

I wanted this mama instinct that people talk about.

I wanted to be able to post on Facebook along with every other mom out there, “Yay! We are so in love. Going home!”

But I didn’t have any of those feelings. 

I didn’t want to go home. I wanted the nurses.

And, in fact, if I’m really honest, I wasn’t head-over-heals in love.

I was head-spinning terrified. (The love was there, just a little masked by fear.)

Thankfully I have experienced friends who prepared me for this moment.

Jessica told me, “Jenna, get ready. When the hospital sends you home, you are going to expect them to give you a manual called, How to Raise a Child. But they don’t.”

So as I’ve wobbly walked, stumbled, tripped and crashed during this first year of motherhood, I’ve mentally been creating my own manual. 

This isn’t a how-to keep a child living and thriving manual. Because honestly, I still don’t know. 

In fact, let me make sure my 13-month old isn’t drinking toilet cleaner or sucking on a razor or about to fall down our basement steps (all of this has almost happened, btw).

Hang on …

Gosh. Really mom?

Okay, I’m back. She’s alive.  

This is more of a how-to manual just for moms. I call this manual: Tips on How to Keep Yourself from Losing Your Mind the First Year of Being a Mom. Sub-title: And When You Do Lose Your Mind, It’s Okay; Just Go Find It, And Put It Back Where it Belongs Until You Lose It Again.

Okay, so maybe that’s a working title.  

Here are my Tips to you first-time mamas:

It’s Not You, It’s Me - In the beginning, every time my child cried, I thought I was in trouble. What did I do wrong? Oh no! She’s mad at me! I failed her! Is she breaking up with me? But then my cousin Jack, father of three, handed me this pot of gold, “Babies cry. Don’t take it personally. That’s just how they communicate.” Oooohhhh. Okay. So her crying doesn’t mean I’m a failure, that I’ve hurt her, that I’m a terrible mother? Naw. I think if she could talk, she would say, “Mom, it’s cool. I’m just hungry. Just a little tired and got this gas thing going on. It’s not you. It’s me.” Long. Exhale.

Parenting Books and the Bible - You Mean, There’s A Difference? - Man, I spent hours reading books about feeding, training and loving my child, believing every word written was inspired by God. So when I applied the formula and didn’t get exact results, I was shocked. What? Why isn’t she sleeping perfectly? Why isn’t she eating every bite of organic green beans I boiled and pureed myself like a good little mom? Why isn’t she rolling over? Why isn’t she …? Maybe it’s because I was confusing advice for truth. Those published experts out there are wonderful helpers. But they are just that - helpers. They aren’t her Creator. My Rosie isn’t a formula to plug in and a problem to solve; she’s a wonderfully-made, unique, eternal soul to get to know and help grow. So I guess I wish I would have spent more time this past year reading her Creator’s truth than the expert’s advice. (Though Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child changed my life.)

Rest Redefined - Motherhood is the hardest for me on Saturdays. Saturday used to mean waking up late, breakfast date with Brett (hubs), movies on the couch, eating what I wanted to, whenever I wanted to.  It was a recharge day where I physically and mentally rested. This day doesn’t exist in my current season of life. Babies don’t take those kind of breaks. So I’ve been asking God to help me see rest in a new way. I take a deep breath as we are playing in the grass and she points to a bird, closing my eyes and thanking God for a beautiful day and a peaceful baby. In that moment I find a little rest. When we’re in the car, I savor the empty arms. Rest. When she’s eating a banana, I hold my mug of coffee and take long, slow sips asking God to give me strength for the day. Rest. God is showing me a new side of rest. Yes, He loves a physical Sabbath, but more than anything, He calls us to a spiritual Sabbath - a place where our hearts, no matter the circumstances, can find rest in Him. 

What Would My 60-Year-Old Self Tell My 30-Year-Old Self? - This question I also got from my wise friend Jessica. And asking it would immediately change my perspective. I think my 60-year-old self would say things like, "Just hold her a little longer"; "Just let the house be messy and play a little more"; "Savor this; she's gone before you know it." I would ask it in the sweet moments, ask it in the hard moments. This question had a way of instantly putting my frustrations at ease.

And the biggest lesson I learned this past year? 

(Yea, it’s a short manual. And let’s get real. This isn’t really a manual at all. Anyways…)

If I Want to Be a Reliable Mother, I Have to Be a Reliant Daughter - I was a mess. She wasn’t sleeping. I couldn’t figure out why she was crying. I put her in her crib, ran to my room, threw myself on the bed and started crying louder than she was. God, I can’t do this! And, for real, in that moment, and pretty much everyday since, I still feel that way. As I was curled up in the fetal position on the bed, the thought surfaced in my heart - You can’t be a mother if you are not, first, My daughter. I’m not one of those that has heard an audible voice from God. In fact, I don’t feel like I hear the voice of God very much at all. But there have been pivotal moments in my life where such a lucid, and authoritative thought hits me in the head that I can only point to the Spirit. 

What is it about being a daughter that would make me a good mother?

When I think of who I was as a little girl, I see a girl who felt…

Carefree

Light-hearted

Wonder-filled

Adventure-seeking

I see a girl who …

Ran straight to my Dad when there was a problem

Knew I was safe in my Dad’s care

Depended on my Dad

Trusted my Dad

Allowed my Dad to be in charge

I was trying so hard to do it all, control it all, figure this new mom thing out that I had lost sight. I had lost sight of who I was. I had forgotten that I was His, first. And because of that Rosie was His, first. I had forgotten that He’s the real parent here.  And because of that, I’ve got nothing to fear.

Since having Rosie, my dad has made an intentional effort to hug me first. Before he holds Rosie, he holds me. Before he asks how she’s doing, he asks how I’m doing. Do you know how much I’ve needed that? As a mom, I’ve needed to feel like a daughter more than ever.

So fellow mama friends, today let's remember we are daughters before we are mothers. When we remember this, remember the stuff that’s really important, that other stuff- the spills, tantrums, failed Spelling test - shrink in severity. (Even though they are still freakin’ annoying.)

“What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it — we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.”           (1 John 3:1, The Message)

Rosie's biggest lesson her first year? Sugar is everything.

Habakkuk - The End of Yourself is Just the Beginning

(Well, this is it. Our final Habakkuk study:( Thanks for joining me. I would LOVE your feedback. So please feel free to message me things you liked, things you didn't like. Hope we take on another book together soon. In fact, send suggestions my way of other books you'd like to study!)

I think if we were honest with ourselves, we would all admit that somewhere within us, we have made a secret plea deal with God.

This deal is made on expectations I have of God.

Expectations that if I follow Him, He won’t allow harm to come my way.

Expectations that if I love Him, He will keep suffering at bay.

Eugene Peterson says, “That God-followers don’t get preferential treatment in life always comes as a surprise."

It’s true.

When suffering comes my way, I have this automatic response in my heart, “But God! I thought we had a bargain! I thought if I loved you, you would make things easy!”

My friend Christyn calls this deal with God her “line in the sand.”

It’s a line that we don’t want God to cross.

It’s the line that God knows, as Christyn says, “will be your breaking point.”

Christyn is all too familiar with God crossing her “line.”

For the past five years, her daughter Rebecca has lived most of her life in hospitals. While watching Rebecca barely hang on to life, she miscarried her daughter Annabelle.

I want to share Christyn’s honest words about losing Annabelle. She wrote this blog post on the eve of a crucial surgery for Rebecca.

(For the full post, visit Rebecca’s Caring Bridge site here:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rebeccataylor1/journal/view/id/51c061fb6ca0046f1c10cb24)

“The Lord and I have always been close... I knew I loved God, therefore, I knew He ultimately worked for my good.

...

The problem was, my strength in God was based on my own faulty perception.  God and I had a deal--I would endure the trials that came my way while God acknowledged my stopping point.  He knew where my line had been drawn and subconsciously, I knew in my heart He would never cross it.

On August 2, 2010 my line in the sand was crossed.  My one-way deal with God shattered.  On the way to the hospital that night, there was no doubt in my mind that Annabelle would live.  Coming off of the hardest summer of my family's lives, with Rebecca still at home on a feeding tube and her future health completely unknown--it was a forgone conclusion that this baby we so wanted and loved

would be saved.

When I was told Annabelle would not make it, my fear set in and my faith began to crumble.

…

I have spent weeks trying to figure out why a God I so love, could let this happen to my family at such a time...

How do I return to the faith that God works for my good--even if that good is unseen by human eyes?  

I have to give up my line in the sand.  

I have to offer my entire life, every minute portion of it, to God's control regardless of the outcome.”

Did you get that?

“I have to give up” she said.

Give up the control, give up the worry, give up the expectations, give up the doubt, give up the God accusations, the line in the sand, the fear...

Giving up means reaching the end of ourselves.

Reaching the end of ourselves means surrendering to Jesus.

Surrendering to Jesus means trusting in Jesus.

In the last chapter of Habakkuk’s writings, he gives up.

He reaches the end of all of his complaints.

He surrenders to the sovereignty of God.

And he finds out that the only way to have fullness of joy is to fully trust.

Trust that God’s plan is good.

But, even more than that, trust that God is good.

READ

Habakkuk 3

RESPOND

Uuuuuuurrrrrkkk!

When I get to chapter 3, this is the sound I hear in my head.

Rubber tires skidding to a stop.

Instead of continuing in the direction of questioning and complaining, Habakkuk puts his foot on the breaks and decides to go a different direction.

The attitude of his heart has changed.

And with that comes a change in pen.

In this chapter, our buddy Habakkuk begins to write in a whole new style - a hymn, a prayer-type genre. It’s even a genre that Habakkuk suggests be put to song! Did you catch that when you read it?

Read Habakkuk 3:1 again. Now read the end of 3:19.

In 3:1 you first read that this is a “prayer” of Habakkuk.

This introduction is reminiscent of “five Psalms of lament (Ps. 17, 86, 90, 102, 142).” The lament Psalms were songs or prayers where “intercession is made for divine intervention.”   (The Expositor's Bible Commentary)

Habakkuk is writing a psalm.

He includes a funny-sounding word, “Shigionoth,” found one other time in Psalm 7 by King David. Many Bible scholars think this word meant, “take these words and set them to music,” but not just any music - dramatic music with “strong emotion.” (www.biblehub.com)

Then, in 3:19 we see more musical instruction don’t we?

So in chapter 3, we are reading song lyrics!

It’s a song of lament from Habakkuk’s heart and a song of praise, pronouncing the might of God.

What is Habakkuk’s attitude toward God when he begins his prayer-song in verse 2?

And what does Habakkuk ask God to do?

Habakkuk has a holy fear of God in chapter 3 doesn’t he?

In chapter 2, he heard all that God will do in judgment. He was reminded of God’s power, His wrath and His love for justice.

He says in 3:2, he has heard “the report” of God, meaning He has heard stories about God’s miracles and mighty works.

So we see that he wears a reverence that reroutes his request of God.

Reverence does that. It reroutes our requests.

What is his request?

The Message version says it like this: “Do among us what you did among them.

   Work among us as you worked among them.

And as you bring judgment, as you surely must,

   remember mercy.”

Does that prayer sound selfish to you? How does that prayer honor God?

John MacArthur says, “His one desire was that things be right according to God's plan, not comfortable according to his desires.”

So here we see Habakkuk is actually okay with God’s plan! 

Wow! That’s a new Habakkuk, isn’t it? 

He WANTS God’s will and only requests mercy in the midst of it all.

Habakkuk then moves on to a series of verses reflecting on the works of God.

Verses 3-15 present what is called a “theophany.”

A theophany is a manifestation of God that can be experienced by human senses. (www.biblestudytools.com)

Reread verses 3-7. Any of these passages remind you of major events between God and the Israelites?

Read Deuteronomy 33:2. Do you see any resemblance?

Though Habakkuk doesn’t specifically say Mt. Sinai, it seems the imagery he uses looks a lot like Moses’ song in Deuteronomy. He is talking about God coming down to Mt. Sinai to deliver the law.

We also see hints of Habakkuk referring to the plagues in Egypt in verse 5, don’t we?

Now reread verses 8-10. Any major Old Testament events come to mind?

Though the language here is, yet again, ambiguous, there seems to be reference to a couple of crucial water miracles - the parting of the Red Sea (v. 8) and the Flood (v. 10).

In verse 11, some scholars think it is a reference to Joshua 10 when God stopped the sun and moon until He had delivered Israel’s enemies into their hands. Regardless of what it refers to, it opens up the last set of verses in the theophany which portray God as a mighty warrior, crushing His foes.

Write down descriptive words or phrases that point to God as a warrior in verses 11-15.

How would listing out these events in 3-15 bring the Israelites of Habakkuk’s time hope?

Verse 16 interrupts the description of God with some of the most honest words Habakkuk says. I almost picture him whispering this part of the song.

Look at verse 16. Write down what he afraid of.

Yes, judgment will take place against the Babylonians, but who is going to be judged first? God told us in Habakkuk 1:6 the Babylonians would bring judgment upon Judah.

Habakkuk admits he is “trembling,” his lips are “quivering” imagining impending judgment.

But then what does ole Habsters do?

He writes a small-in-size but big-in-meaning word we need to look at.

“YET.”

Underline that word in your Bible (v.16). We see it again in verse 18. 

Reread vs. 17-19 and underline “yet” in verse 18.

Let’s close out by going deeper into Habakkuk’s concluding words, especially that biggie - “yet” - in the “Reflect” section.

REFLECT

Habakkuk knows the fury of God, he's heard the stories of God's power.

God’s judgment on Judah through the Babylonians will be an utter nightmare.

In fact, verse 17 gives us a small glimpse of that nightmare.

Once Judah is invaded by Babylon, their agriculture will be destroyed.

Agriculture. It was everything. Their lifeline.

The fig trees and grapevines won’t bloom, the fields will die and pens will be empty...

“YET”

Highlight the words that follow both “yets” in the verses below.

“Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble

   to come upon people who invade us” (v.16).

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord;

   I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (v.18).

Wait patiently for what? Calamity! How do you do that? How do you wait patiently for destruction?

Rejoice in the Lord? How do you do that when your land and people are destroyed?

In my opinion, these two verses, hold two of the most crucial truths to help us through suffering.

In verse 16, Habakkuk says he will wait patiently on the calamity God promises. Write down what this says about the status of Habakkuk’s faith. How can we apply this verse to our lives?

In verse 16, the “yet” means that Habakkuk will trust God’s plan over his own.

Even if it means calamity, even if he fears God’s judgment or disagrees with it; even if he still doesn’t completely understand it, by saying “yet I will quietly wait,” Habakkuk surrenders.

He surrenders his expectations, his questions, his complaints, his worry, his line in the sand ...

He surrenders himself.

And he trusts God.

He trusts God to the point of embracing calamity.

Wow. That is trust if I’ve ever seen it.

Look at verse 18 and write down what you think Habakkuk’s choice to “rejoice” in God says about the status of his faith. What can you take away from this verse?

John Stott, a well-known pastor and Bible teacher, says “rejoicing in the Lord” means, “Let the Lord be the one who makes you happy; find your joy in Him and Him alone.”

Habakkuk is proclaiming that it is in God that he finds his joy. 

It is in God that he celebrates, soars with happiness.

It is God that inspires him to sing his psalm in chapter 3.

In spite of the circumstances Habakkuk has learned that the only true joy is the Maker of joy.

In suffering, in chaos, in hurt Habakkuk has learned to find the fullness of joy means trusting in the fullness of God.

These two “yets” tell us that Habakkuk has reached the end of himself.

He is in a place where he trusts in and finds joy in God alone.

How can you and I get to this place of saying “yet” and really mean it? How can we get to the point where we trust Him and find joy only in Him, even during suffering? Write down your thoughts.

Well, it was a journey for our friend Habsters wasn’t it?

If you’ve been hanging out with me during this study, we have discovered that Habakkuk was honest with God. He waited on God. He listened to God. He wrestled with God ...

But I think chapter 3 gives us two of the most important ways Habakkuk reaches his point of saying “yet I will trust You,” “yet I will find joy in You.”

Number 1 - Habakkuk worships. All of chapter 3 we see Habakkuk singing. And in his song he is recalling all the good works of God. These good works of the past give him assurance of God’s work in the future. Elevating God, His might, His goodness, brings Habakkuk peace.

Worship takes us to the end of ourselves and into God.

Number 2 - To see this one, reread the final verse of chapter 3 for me.

Verse 19 tells us that Habakkuk found his strength where?

In the Lord.

And this strength from God takes Habakkuk to new heights in his faith.

The Lord is the only way we can reach a place of trust. 

He gives us the strength to not only walk through the suffering, but walk through suffering with joy. Can’t trust God? 

Can’t find joy in Him? 

Then ask God for it. It’s only through Him that you and I will reach a point of “yet" just like Habakkkuk.

It took him a while. It takes me a while. (In fact, it’s an everyday struggle.) 

But Habakkuk finds the end of himself.

He surrenders it all.

No more lines in the sand. No more complaints. No more doubts.

Just God.

“When there is nothing left. When you are at the utter end of yourself, there is nothing left but God. And in God there is joy unspeakable.” (Dr. Toussaint)

PRAY

For our final prayer time together, let’s worship like Habakkuk worshiped.

Turn on your favorite worship songs and meditate on the sovereignty of God.

Here are a couple of songs I have on repeat in my car these days if you need some ideas:

https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=bethel+it+is+well&ei=UTF-8&fr=chrf-yff30

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002&ei=utf-8&fr=ytff1-yff30&p=kari%20jobe%20forever&type= 



(Resources used for this post come from John MacArthur's sermons on Habakkuk at www.gty.org, www.biblestudytools.com, www.biblehub.com, John Stott's commentary on Philippians and Eugene Peterson's notes in The Message Bible, and Dr. Toussaint's sermon on Habakkuk at http://www.dts.edu/media/play/the-sovereignty-of-god-toussaint-stanley/)

Habakkuk - Sovereignty in Suffering

(So glad you are here! If you want to take full advantage of this study, I would suggest starting from the beginning and printing out the lessons or having a journal nearby to answer the questions. Would love feedback! I'm a first-timer at this!)

There are moments in life that demand silence.

Maybe it’s the conductor lifting up his hands before Vivaldi’s famous Spring bursts forth through strings and trumpets.

Maybe it’s a sunset on the beach - the pinks and oranges reflecting off of the waves.

Maybe it’s at the base of Mt. Everest or at the edge of the Grand Canyon.

When the president steps up to the podium or the soloist to the microphone, does the room hush?

Majesty, power, beauty demands silence.

In these moments of silence, even our suffering is quieted.

There is a reminder that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves.

In today’s lesson, we see the glory of the Lord silence the complaints, the doubts, the accusations of Habakkuk. And I have a feeling after reading this, it will quiet our hearts as well.

READ:

Habakkuk 2:5-20

RESPOND:

Wednesday we chatted about two responses to God and His message. They are found in Hab. 2:4. You can read that lesson here.

One response is with faith. The other response is with pride.

In this context, the Babylonians represent the man with pride.

So how does God describes the prideful man, Babylon, in 2:5? Write down some descriptors.

God describes Babylon as arrogant, as a soul never at rest.

He actually compares Babylonians to hell in this passage.

Your version may say “grave,” but the Hebrew used here is that of hell, “Sheol.”

Hell is never satisfied. It is in an eternal state of unrest.

Proverbs 27:20 says, “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.” 

So the Babylonians are a greedy nation, taking over all other nations but never content.

And because of the Babylonian’s pride, God then goes into 15 verses revealing His promise to destroy the Babylonians.

Meanwhile, Habakkuk is listening with chisel in hand. He is going to write down the upcoming destruction of Babylon, God’s promise of justice.

So what does God say He will do to Babylon?

Go ahead and reread verses 6-20. Is there a recurring word that you see? (HINT: It’s at the beginning of 6, 9, 12, 15 and more.) Write down that recurring word and count how many times it is used.  

“WHOE”!!!

Is that the recurring word in your translation?

I counted five of them.

I’m guessing if there are five, then God is trying to prove a point. Wouldn’t you think?

I learned that this section of Habakkuk would be called the “woe oracle.” A woe oracle usually had two parts: “a declaration of wrong and a notice of impending judgment” (quoting from the New Illustrated Bible Commentary).

A quick word study on “woe,” told me that this little word can also be understood as “alas!” or “oh!” usually communicating pain or dissatisfaction (www.biblehub.com).

Write down the 5 different “woes.”

The “woes” can be broken up into the 5 follies of the Babylonians.

A great commentary I use called the New Illustrated Bible Commentary breaks them up like this:

1. The folly of extortion and plunder (vv. 6-8)
2. The folly of exploitation and injustice (vv. 9-10)
3. The folly of murder (vv. 11-14)
4. The folly of drunkenness and immorality (vv. 15-17)
5. The folly of idolatry (vv. 18-20)

Through these “whoes” God is stressing doom upon the prideful man of Babylon.

Now look at vv. 14 and 20 and write them down.

These verses stand out among the others. 

They break the woe oracle up with two, deep theological pronouncements. 

Aren’t they beautiful?

Let’s look at 2:14 again.

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

How do waters cover the sea? Completely. Fully. Deeply.

John Piper defines God’s glory as “the public display of His infinite beauty and worth.”

God’s glory is the weight of all that He is - all His goodness, majesty, awesomeness.

The promise of God that is etched in stone is that one day the entire earth will know this glory. It will fill up the earth as water fills up the Atlantic. It will root deeply and completely in every heart.

Has this promise been fulfilled yet?

Well, if we stick to the time of Habakkuk, God’s glory was displayed in the destruction of Babylon when they were defeated in 539 BC by the Persians.

But the fullness of this prophecy is probably referring to a bigger picture.

Do you think this promise in chapter 2 could reach beyond Habakkuk’s time? Write down your thoughts.

The Bible talks a LOT about Babylon - other prophets, even the book of Revelation.

Babylon turns into a symbol - a symbol that means something more than just one nation in history.

In fact, in Revelation we see that Babylon was symbolic of Rome, an empire that persecuted Christians.

And it is also symbolic of nations in rebellion against God. (You can look at Revelation 17:1-19:4 and 14:8 for more.)

So could God’s words in Habakkuk pertain to a judgment greater than the current nation of Babylon?

It’s definitely possible.

Read Isaiah 11:9. Do see a resemblance to Habakkuk 2:14?

In Isaiah 11:9, the prophet Isaiah is talking about a new age - the Messianic age, when Christ would come. It could mean when Christ came and could also refer to when Christ will reign on earth again.

Then, God's glory will fill the earth.

Okay, so what's my point in showing you Isaiah 11:9 and verses in Revelation?

I guess I’m trying to make the point that there is good reason to read these words in Habakkuk 2 as a promise that applies not only to Habakkuk but also to a future age.

An age where justice reigns.

An age where there is no darkness, only light.

An age where the wicked do NOT prosper.

An age where death doesn’t exist and suffering is forgotten.

An age when all of “Babylon” will be defeated and Christ will reign on earth for eternity.

I’ll have you personally respond more to this idea in a sec, but for now, let’s close up by looking at another beautiful theological thought that ends our “whoe” oracle.

Reread Habakkuk 2:20. Write down what you think this verse means.

Silence indicates submission.

No word of objection.

Habakkuk had been complaining, but now his attitude changes doesn’t it?

I’m guessing that as Habakkuk is writing these words down there is a reverance that comes over Him.

A holy awe bubbles up as if he is standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon or at the base of Mt. Everest.

Is this a God in his "holy Temple" one you want to mess with?

No.

He has just flexed His muscles, shown the world what He will do in judgment.

He has just stomped on the idols of Babylon (2:18-19).

And through this verse, God reminds the nations, reminds us, of Who sits on the heavenly throne.

RESPOND:

What are some truths from today’s reading that not only apply to Judah and Babylon, but to you (i.e. truths about pride, justice, evil vs. good. etc.)?

If God’s words speak of judgment on a bigger level - if they are referring to His destruction of all evil at the end of times, how does that give you hope? How can that carry you through suffering?

After reading about God’s holy wrath against Babylon and knowing this same holy wrath will happen again during the time of Revelation, what is your attitude toward God, what happens to your perspective of Him?

That last verse in chapter 2 really makes me think of the word, “sovereignty.”

Look up the word ”sovereignty,” and you’ll see that it means supreme power.

It means ruler over all things.

When I picture God in His holy temple, reigning over all nations...

When I think of Him as all-knowing, as the Alpha and Omega, the Creator of all things… 

When I remember that He is the essence of holiness, the source of light, ordainer of all my days …

Something happens in my Spirit.

I can’t help but want to worship.

I can’t help but want to fall on my knees.

As I worship, all is right in my heart.

God is on the throne.

I’m in submission to His plan.

And slowly I not only trust Him with my suffering; I trust Him. 

Just Him.

PRAY:  

During the prayer time, try getting on your knees.

Then read John’s vision of Jesus in Revelation 1:12-18.

Make this time silent.

Don’t say anything to Him.

Instead, just dwell on His majesty, His sovereignty.


LOOKING AHEAD:

Just one more lesson to go!
So check out Habakkuk 3, and I'll be back with a new lesson next week.
Thanks again for going through this Habakkuk journey with me. Remember to post comments as questions or wisdom surfaces. Would love to read your thoughts!