Face bad news with joy and strength with these 3 lessons from Habakkuk.
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Under the fig tree
“He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm,
trusting in the LORD.”
(Psalm 112:7 ESV)
“Do you want the good news or the bad news first?”
Which we choose might say a thing or two about our personality. But the one who trusts in the Lord can remain confident, even when bad news comes knocking.
Imagine living in a world where the law is powerless, and violence is rampant. The prophet Habakkuk lived in Judah in such a time and saw the wicked gaining power with no consequences. In asking God why He allowed such violence to continue, God replied.
The good news? God will punish Judah for her wickedness. The bad news (to Habakkuk)? To do so, God will use the Babylonians, known for their fearsome and violent army.
Mortifying news indeed.
But we can learn our first lesson in facing bad news: even when you don’t understand God’s plan, trust Him humbly.
Habakkuk is appalled. But recognising God’s ultimate sovereignty, he doesn’t demand answers. Rather, he waits humbly to hear God, even anticipating that he will be “corrected” (Habakkuk 2:1).
The second lesson is this: hold on to who God is.
Despite the bad news, Habakkuk remembers that God is righteous. God reassures him that the wicked will not go unpunished forever. In time, Babylon too will be judged (Habakkuk 3:8).
When we face bad news today, we can cling to God’s unchanging nature. No matter what we feel, He is loving, compassionate, faithful, and just. He sees it all, the good and the bad. Our limited perspectives and our temporary bad news do not change our God, who cannot deny Himself.
The third lesson? Good news or bad news, rejoice in the Lord.
The Book of Habakkuk ends with a national invasion looming on the horizon. Yikes!
Yet Habakkuk powerfully declares, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines... yet I will rejoice in the LORD” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
This is a joy rooted not in our circumstances but in the God of our salvation.
By meditating on God’s great power and past deliverance of His people, Habakkuk could rejoice (Habakkuk 3:9-15). True strength comes not from our own resolve, but from trusting God’s faithfulness.
Just as God was faithful before, He will remain faithful again. Even when bad news comes.