WHEN GOD
Week 3
CONNECT
-Are you someone who loves to plan things or one who wants to do them spontaneously? Why?
-Tell us of a time when you had a conflict with a friend. What was the reason?
-When a friend tells you something, do you agree immediately or “take time to probe”? Why?
MAIN VERSE
17Though the fig tree should not blossom,nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive failand the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the foldand there be no herd in the stalls,18yet I will rejoice in the Lord;I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV)
Have you ever prepared and exerted all your best effort for a big eventonly to find out that things would not work out on the day itself? Unexpected and unwanted circumstances happen to all of us. Even the prophet Habakkuk realized that sometimes, no matter hard we try tocontrol events towards a certain direction, some things will simply not cooperate. Blaming God for all this is common. Whatdoes the Bible tell us to do when God doesn’t seem to cooperate?
- Accept that things may not go our way.
17Though the fig tree should not blossom,nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive failand the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the foldand there be no herd in the stalls,
Habakkuk 3:17 ESV
The Israelitesin Habakkuk’s time faced constantthreats from their enemies, the Babylonians. Things kept coming against their way. In our lives today, it is only natural for us to hope for our plans to pan out as smoothly as possible.Things don’t always turn out that way, however.Many unfortunate events happen, showing us that we are not in full control of our future and that our abilities are limited. To move forward in life, we must all accept this inevitable fact. Why do we always feel like we have to be in control?
- Watch our attitude when things don’t go our way.
18yet I will rejoice in the Lord;I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:18 ESV
When things don’t go our way, there is still one thing that we can control: our attitude. Habakkuk, for one, realized that despite the bleak circumstances around him, he can still choose to rejoice and be joyful in the Lord. Our response to life’s challenges speaks so much about our heart’s condition. We can use it as a gauge to measure our faith and determine whom we trust.That way, God can point out areas in our lives where we need to grow and become more like Him.What does Paul encourage the church in Philippi to do? (See Philippians 4:4)
- Trust God when things don’t go our way
19God, the Lord, is my strength;he makes my feet like the deer's;he makes me tread on my high places.
Habakkuk 3:19 (ESV)
In our most desperate moments, all is not lost. We serve a God who is mighty over any trial or problem. Trusting that He will do what He has promised is a step in the right direction. The more we trust His character and not our capabilities, the more we allow Him to fix our heart’s response and give us strength. He is a God who is able to renew mindsets, break misconceptions, and work miracles in our lives. (See also Deut 3:16) How has trusting in God given you a new perspective on how to respond to your situation?
SO WHAT
-Why is it difficult sometimes to accept that things will not always go our way?
-How do you normally respond when things do not go as expected?
-What are the things that are stopping you from letting go and letting God work in your situation?
NOW WHAT
-What are some of God’s promises that you can claim when things do not go your way?
-How can you improve the way you respond when “uncooperative” situations happen in your life?
-What practical step can you take so that you can trust God more?
PRAYER
-Pray that God will take control of our hearts when things do not go our way.
-Pray that God will mature us as we face different situations in our lives.
-Pray for a deeper encounter with God as we trust Him in our circumstances.