How To Remain Sane In An Insane World

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17-19

Summary: This text encourages us to trust God in spite of circumstances

that suggest that He has abandoned us.

17Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food; though the
flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, 18yet I will
rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation. 19God, the Lord,
is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and makes me
tread upon the heights. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
(Habakkuk 3:17-19).

This text is extracted from the section of the Hebrew Bible known as the
Minor Prophets. This designation was based on the length of the writings
vis-à-vis the content of writings. Habakkuk is writing in the 6th century BC,
just prior to the period of the Babylonian Captivity (circa 587 BC). If we
listen carefully at his words across all three chapters, we can hear three
points of tension. The first tension point is his concern about the
unrighteousness within his community. The covenant established between
God and Israel via Moses had long been violated and violated many times
over. Throughout a 700 year period, the sons and daughters of Abraham
had experienced their own prodigal cycles. Unfortunately their tendency of
self-destructive behavior has now incurred severe judgment from God.

The second tension point is that Israel’s internal sins will be judged by an
external enemy; Israel’s wickedness before God is reflected in the nation
that will take them captive. Think of the irony – a nation that never knew
God was being used to judge a nation that chose to forget Him.

The third tension point is his internal struggle to reconcile his own theology.
This prophecy is expressed as a dialog between Habakkuk and God. And
in this dialog, we hear Habakkuk attempting to make sense of God’s
actions or lack thereof. This call and response, give and take, ebb and flow
takes us on a journey of Habakkuk’s spiritual formation. The Habakkuk we
hear at the beginning sounds like a different man at the end.

In effect, Habakkuk saw conflict on three fronts: (1) within his community,
(2) between Israel and Babylon and (3) between himself and God. This
three-front struggle is seen across the scriptures. David was at variance
with the Philistines, King Saul and his own flesh. Paul wrestled with
Jews/Christians, Romans and his own weaknesses. Jesus had to manage
conflict among the disciples, criticisms from the Jewish leaders and
whether to drink from the cup of suffering in the garden.
?

Get Started
 

It is in this context that our text shines as a point of theological contrast.

Habakkuk proclaims that if the economy collapses, if agribusiness
goes out of business, if everything goes wrong, ‘yet’ he will rejoice.
This is known as ‘yet’ faith. When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
proclaimed that they would be willing to die for their faith – that was ‘yet’
faith. When Paul said that he would be willing to sacrifice his pedigree and
heritage to gain the knowledge of Christ – that was ‘yet’ faith. When Christ
cried out ‘My God, My God – why have you forsaken me?’ and then said
‘Into your hands, I commend my spirit’ – that was ‘yet’ faith.

In effect, ‘yet’ faith is a declaration that we are willing to ‘ride or die’

with God. It means that no matter what people think, do or say that we are
sticking with God. It means that we may never be able to explain how a
yellow sun in blue sky grows green grass that is eaten by brown cows
to produce white milk; all we believe is that God is able. It is this faith –
‘yet’ faith – that sustains Habakkuk in the face of calamity, crisis,
hopelessness, helplessness, chaos, confusion, despair and
destruction.

Let us ask ourselves “Do I have ‘yet’ faith?” Am I like Abraham – willing to
offer my best as a sacrifice, believing that God can restore, revive and
replace everything that I gave up? Am I willing to trust the hand of a God
whose face I cannot trace? Can I trust a God who allowed the 1941 Pearl
Harbor attack and the 9/11/2001 attacks? Can I trust a God who allows
babies to be born with defects? Can I trust a God who allows the righteous
to suffer and the wicked to prosper? Can I trust a God who allows
earthquakes, hurricanes and brush fires? Can I trust a God who allows
people to be abused? Can I trust a God who did not save my marriage?
Can I trust God who let my parents die from Alzheimer’s disease? Can I
trust a God who allowed me to get laid off? Forget ‘yet’ faith, do I have any
faith in God?

If we are honest, the response of most/many of us is ‘Lord I believe, but

help my unbelief’. We are not where we used to be but not where we
ought to be. May we all in our own ways, yield ourselves to God’s hands
as He shapes us into children who trust Him completely. If we trust
Him, He will equip us to climb upon the tough places in life. If we trust
Him, He will condition us to handle our changes when He choose not to
change our conditions. Let ‘yet’ faith be the hymn that we sing with ‘The
Choirmaster’ of our hearts. Amen.

Summary: This sermon teaches us how to maintain our sanity in an insane

world.

I. Realize that These are Desperate Times.

II. Rest in God's Decisions.

III. Remain Faithful in Your Prayer Devotion.

IV. Rejoice in His Deity.

V. Rely on God's Directions.

VI. Ready for His Descent.

VII. Replay Within, His Dominion.

Conclusion: No problem today is bigger than God tomorrow.