Understanding ≠ Faithfulness

Somewhat recently, I found myself alone in the media and marketing office at camp, which is pretty rare. I was wrestling through a difficult situation personally, and hated any form of silence, because it forced me to sit with my thoughts about myself and the Lord. In this season, I was confused and unsure, but knew I needed to rely on the Lord. As recommended by a wise friend, I studied through the book of Habakkuk. If you’re unfamiliar, as I was, Habakkuk was a prophet and this book records his conversations with the Lord. Habakkuk sees the abundance of evil in the world and knows the Lord is good, but is struggling to believe. In that specific season of my life, I’ve never related to anything more, which I’m sure is not a unique experience. Most of us probably know the Lord is good, even in hard situations. We know the truth of Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them”. It’s not that we don’t know the truth, it’s that we don’t believe it. At any given time, we can say “the Lord is good”, but are we believing it and acting on it? And how do we do that?

Oftentimes, especially in seasons of difficulty, we don’t understand how trials can be good or why the Lord would choose to teach through hardship. And that’s okay, because we can never fully understand the Lord or His purposes. However, a lack of understanding is not an excuse for a lack of faithfulness. My commitment to the Lord cannot be dependent on my circumstances or comprehension of His plan. Just like Habakkuk, I may not understand how this could be good, but I can welcome correction and understanding from the Lord. I so heavily respect Habakkuk because, in his book, he does not go before the Lord in arrogance or demanding an answer, but in humility. He acknowledges the Lord’s goodness, but is simply confused as to how this plan was good. At the end of his second complaint, Habakkuk says he will eagerly and expectantly await the Lord’s answer, as if he were a watchman. So often we don’t understand the Lord, and demand answers, but don’t even expect Him to deliver. Once again this is a lack of belief. Whether it is wishing for something from the past, coveting what others have, stressing about a future situation, or a million more examples. Fundamentally, not trusting the Lord is saying that our plans are better or higher than His. Of course saying this aloud would be ridiculous, yet expressing this in action and attitude feels rational at times.

Okay. So the Lord is good even when I don’t understand and I need to believe it even when I don’t feel it. Great. How? We start by being in the Word everyday and filling our minds with truth. In difficult seasons, Satan feeds us lies about ourselves, the Lord, and sometimes other people. Filling our minds with the truth of God’s Word is exactly how to fight these. The Lord says He knows us (Jeremiah 1:5), calls us His children (John 1:12), says we are chosen (John 15:16), and loved us when we were still in sin (Romans 5:8). What wonderful truths to cling to! Looking to the truth of Scripture and going before the Lord in prayer are how we combat the lies of the world. Even still, knowing these is not the same as believing. Speak the truth of the Gospel — who the Lord is and what He’s done — to yourself everyday to fight unbelief. Write out what the Lord has blessed you with and commit Scripture to memory. This is where belief begins. But we are called to put our belief into action by being faithful (James 1:22-25).

Faithfulness is a result of genuine belief, or living out the work the Lord has done in our lives. Practically, this looks like spending time with the Lord daily, in prayer and by reading His Word. In so doing, the Lord fixes our gaze on Himself and softens our hearts to desire His will. Instead of coveting and experiencing anxiety, we submit our needs for understanding and control to the Lord, in which we are met with His peace, mercy, and love. As displayed by Habakkuk, we aren’t to approach the Lord in pride or anger, but in humility, knowing and believing that there is purpose to His plan, regardless of whether or not I can see it. Of course I don’t understand the Lord and His ways, I am a lowly, imperfect, prideful, selfish human. But He is holy, almighty, omnipotent, the Lion and Lamb, the Just Judge and Overseer of my soul. Why even try to bear trials, heartache, and confusion alone? He knows all and is above all. As another wise friend reminded me, the Lord isn’t pacing around His throne wondering what to do next. He is seated, ruling with all authority. Circumstances may feel “wrong” and confusing to me, but all I have to do is submit and entrust this season, and the next, to the Lord. He knew the outcome before the beginning. In that I can rejoice! I have the hope of the God who raised my Savior from the dead, forgiving all past, present, and future sins. No situation, incomprehension, or trial can ever take that away. No matter what we experience on this earth, we rejoice, because the God we serve is in control and we have eternal life in Him.

So practically, what’s next? Believe the Lord’s promises and cling to them. Submit confusion and anxiety to the Lord, He exchanges them for peace beyond belief. Don’t let a lack of understanding be an excuse for a lack of faithfulness. Live in light of all the Lord has promised us!

“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, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” – Habakkuk 3:17-19