Big Takeaway: A prayer for deeper trust. Practice believing the best about God.
Have you ever made up a worst-case scenario in your mind?
We do this all the time, right? We let anxious thoughts override faithful thoughts, and one by one we spiral into thinking we’re doomed. The state of our world, our kids, finances, interest rates, even the dog—doomed. Been there.
If we’re being honest, these worst-case thoughts can be aimed at God sometimes, too.
Habbakuk, an Old Testament prophet, had a few of these oh-so-familiar worst-case thoughts as well. He was surrounded by violence and injustice, and in his cries out to the Lord, he said these words in Habbakuk 1:2-3 (ESV),
“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”and you will not save?
Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.”
These are desperate cries for help, right? But here’s the line I want us to lean into today: how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?
Habbakuk is essentially saying, “God, I feel like you’ve left me hanging here. You’re not listening. Why are you letting these bad things happen? It feels like you're ignoring me and doing nothing.”
Wouldn’t that be the worst thing that could happen to us, that God isn’t who He says He is? That He isn't aware of our circumstances and working on our behalf?
Habbakuk went there in his mind, and I wonder if you’ve gone there, too.
Friend, no shame here! I want to encourage you with an idea I believe will help you keep your worst-case thoughts from spiraling out of control, and it’s this: Practice believing the best about God more than you assume the worst.
Even when you don’t understand God's timing, choose to believe He's working.
Even when life feels chaotic and out of control, choose to believe His hands aren't idle.
Even when you feel left behind, choose to believe He's paving a specific path for you.
We live in a fallen, crooked, sinful world, yes, but we don’t live under the authority of the world. We live under the authority of God, who has us in the palm of His hand at all times. (Psalm 139:10)
Isn't it a gift that we can choose to believe and receive what the Bible says about God's goodness, character, and unshakable love for us?
If we can assume the worst, then we can also believe the best. There’s always room to flip our thoughts toward Truth!
Will you choose to believe the best about God today? Despite difficult circumstances, He always has the bigger picture in mind when it comes to your life and our world.
In those doubt-filled, scary, gut-wrenching moments when you’re tempted to assume the worst about everything under the sun, God is on it.
Let’s live as if God is who He says He is and choose to trust Him and His unfailing Word, one thought at a time.
He's got you.
Reflect:
1. What truth about God encourages you the most?
2. Prayer for deeper trust: Lord, thank You for never turning Your back on me. Forgive me when I doubt You and Your power. Help me to know You better so I can trust You deeper. Help me see Your mighty hand at work no matter what is happening around me. I love you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
3. Bonus scripture: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (ESV)
