Rejoicing

Habakkuk 3

As we wrap up our 5-part series on having a sustained hope in hard times, we look at Habakkuk's resolve to rejoice in the Lord, come what may. Hope isn't something we accidentally fall into; it must be fought for and cultivated. This is especially true of our 5th key to hope, rejoicing. In the bible, joy is not an emotion that comes and goes based on circumstances; it is a moral imperative, a command we must obey in all circumstances. How can we fight for hope-filled joy when life is hard?

June 7, 2020 - Steve Hart

Worshiping

Habakkuk 3

As we continue to move through this time of uncertainty, filled with many reasons for sorrow and despair, we're looking to the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk for keys on how to live with hope. In chapter 3, Habakkuk crafts a poetic prayer which he intends for corporate worship. In worship we recount God's faithfulness in the past and his power to save his people, and we bring it into our current moment. Key 4 to hope in hard times is worshiping - remembering, singing, and praying.

May 31, 2020 - Steve Hart

Anchoring

Habakkuk 2:2-20

We have found ourselves in a season of uncertainty, and it is difficult to discern what is ahead of us in the coming weeks - we could be in a season of hardships of various capacities for some time (or not!). So we're looking at Habakkuk and asking, How can we have hope in these hard times? After voicing his complaints to God, and then waiting on him in silence, Habakkuk hears God speak. God sees the evil of the world, and he is fully intent on bringing justice, renewing the world, and restoring all that has been lost, and these words are meant to reorient us to God's sovereignty over the unfolding of history. And though all this may not happen for some time, we are called to trust God's promise, turn from our idols, and live by faith. The third key to Hope in Hard Times is Anchoring - putting our hope fully in God and his Story of Justice and Glory.

May 24, 2020 - Steve Hart

Waiting

Habakkuk 2

After laying his complaints before God, Habakkuk grows quiet. He's not satisfied with God's answer, but he's not using that as an excuse to give up on God. Instead, he chooses to continue to seek God, carving out time and space to wait on God, listen for him to speak, and linger in his presence. Key to Hope #2 is to learn to Wait on God, shifting attention away from our circumstances and uncertainties to the God who is both present and speaking.

May 17, 2020 - Steve Hart

Lament

Habakkuk 1

Before we mover to Habakkuk 2, we’re pausing for a morning of lament. Lament is a biblical category of prayer which acknowledges the distance between what God intended the world to be and what it is now, pleading with God to intervene. The classic formulation of lament is, “How long, O Lord.” and we see Habakkuk doing this in chapter 1. In light of a number of current injustices in our nation and the way Covid-19 is exacerbating them, we join with the faithful saints throughout the ages and across the globe in praying, “How long, O Lord?!”

May 10, 2020 - Steve Hart

Questioning God

Habakkuk 1

Hope is about having solid ground to stand on when your world is crumbling. Hope is what gives us strength to weather the storms, an inner sturdiness that acts as an anchor for our soul. What we need in hard times is a true hope, a real hope - not wishful thinking or blind faith - but real, solid, sturdy hope. Ironically, the first Key to Hope in Hard Times is Questioning God, learning to express the difficulties, trials, and hardships, and wrestling with the God of grace.

May 3, 2020 - Steve Hart