Do You Hear Me?

Habakkuk 1:1–4 (NKJV)

1 The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.

² O Lord, how long shall I cry,

And You will not hear?

Even cry out to You, “Violence!”

And You will not save.

³ Why do You show me iniquity,

And cause me to see trouble?

For plundering and violence are before me;

There is strife, and contention arises.

⁴ Therefore the law is powerless,

And justice never goes forth.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

In this opening passage of Habakkuk, the Lord hears the prophet cry out against the evil within Israel.  Law is ceremonial but not enforceable.  Justice is not served.  Bribery and favoritism run rampant.  And it does not even seem that God cares.  Habakkuk asks the Lord why He will not do something about this horrible situation, yet there is no response.  This is a place in which many Christians find themselves.  Wondering why God does not care.  Asking God desperately for intervention and help, but the heavens seem silent.  Job may have felt it.  Elijah felt it.  Yet God did show up, and in a timely manner.  Now, Habakkukis feeling the weight of what seems like unanswered prayers.  The key to right thinking, right living, and true faith is to believe in God.  No matter what circumstances are before you, believe in His promises and His faithfulness.  He will not fail you.  He will not allow evil to triumph forever.  No, God will hear you and He will act!