Maintain Your Joy Despite Bad Circumstances

[17] “Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
[18] Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.” – Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NKJV)

How do you feel as a Christian when things turn out badly? Maybe you are in business, say, a real estate agency, but haven’t recorded a sale for almost a year. It’s quite frustrating. Right? Aside from encountering severe losses, you may battle with mental health issues that can affect you very badly. But in the midst of all that, what do you do?

Habakkuk, a prophet in the Old Testament, also encountered these things. When you read Habakkuk 3:17, he cited issues like fig trees not blossoming (signalling potential famines), lack of fruits on the vines, no olive oil, and flocks being cut from the fold. But in all that, he said, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord …”. He didn’t let the issues he was going through steal his joy in the Lord, his Saviour. What about you? Do you wet your pillows with tears when things turn out badly, or do you maintain your joy despite bad circumstances? Think about this.

Life has not been designed to be easy. So, challenges are part of it, and you will face some, no matter who you are. Even wealthy people encounter problems that aren’t related to money. The earlier you understand that rejoicing in the Lord is a conscious thing you must do, the better for you. There is no issue in this world you’ll face without it having a solution before God. He may not solve it at the time you desire, but wait patiently for the Lord. He will not fail you.

You are a blessing.