16 I heard and my heart pounded,
    my lips quivered at the sound;
decay crept into my bones,
    and my legs trembled.
Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity
    to come on the nation invading us.
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.

For the director of music. On my stringed instruments

Throughout this book we have watched Habakkuk travel from a questioning faith (his issues are those of a believer) to a confident faith. He is certain that God is going to deal with the Babylonians, but it hasn’t yet happened (16b). So even though the days of waiting may prove difficult, he will choose the stance of a worshipper (17,18). I am reminded of Selwyn Hughes writing that in all our lives, it is not the circumstances that matter so much as the inner-stances.

It is also possible for you and I to choose an attitude of praise, even in lean times, because of God’s strength. It is not just that He imparts strength to the believer; He ”is” our strength.

Someone said of Habakkuk that although he lacked the gifts, he knew he had the Giver and he rejoiced in Him.