"LET'S BE THANKFUL WHATEVER HAPPENS!"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte

HABAKKUK 3:17-19

Adeline Perkins tells the story about when she was just a little girl. Her father was very ill, and her mother took in sewing so the family could survive. She would sew far into the night with nothing but dim gas mantles and an old treadle sewing machine. But she never complained. Things were bad that winter. Then a letter came from where her sewing machine was purchased, stating that they would have to reposses her machine unless payments were brought up to date. Adeline remembers becoming frightened when her mother read the letter; she could picture the family starving to death and losing their home. Things weren't very bountiful in that household. We are approaching Thanksgiving Day. Usually Thanksgiving sermons focus on the abundance we have for which to be grateful, but today I want to think about the times when things don't seem so bountiful; when things seem to be wrong; when our cupboard is as bare as Old Mother Hubbard's. Yet there are, for those of us in the worst straits, much for which to be grateful; there are, for those of us in the finest of situations, times of hardship. It is easy to thank God in the times of abundance; it is equally needful, however, to thank Him when things are grim. So, though life is sometimes hard, let's give thanks anyway! Consider the prophet Habakkuk this morning; what do we learn from his writing?

SOMETIMES BARRENNESS COMES: V17:

The crops mentioned represent the hope of the farmer. Habakkuk is not referring to a backyard arbor or gazebo covered with grapes which are there for "recreational eating." The animals were not a 4-H project or pets. This was their livelihood, their income, their sustenance. They depended upon a harvest and upon their flocks and herds to survive. Even though all that might fail, there was reason for gratitude.
Do you ever consider your life as a barren field? Do you ever feel like your harvest has failed? Have your flocks been cut off and destroyed? You might feel like that if

Your marriage has gone sour.
Your job is in jeopardy, or you are without employment altogether.
Your doctor just gave you a grim prognosis and your health is precarious.
Your children live lives that bring pain to your heart.
Your finances are in a tangle and you don't see your way up or out.
Your plans crumble, your dreams turn to nightmares, and your goals disintegrate.
You are not getting along with someone in your family.
You live in the shadows, nearly always depressed and anxious.

I would remind you that you are in good company when life seems pretty barren:

Job was there. "My days are past, my plans are torn apart, even the wishes of my heart." Job 17:11.
Moses was there. "I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me. So if Thou art going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in Thy sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness." Numbers 11:14, 15.
The psalmist was there. "For my life is spent with sorrow, And my years with sighing; My strength has failed because of my iniquity, And my body has wasted away." Psalms 31:10
Elijah was there. "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, 'It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.'" 1 Kings 19:4.

Sometimes our fields are parched, barren, fruitless and ruined. But, let's give thanks anyhow! We need the attitude of:

The Psalmist who said, "Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence." Psalms 42:5.
Adeline's mother who trusted God in spite of a difficult time.

She did not appear to be worried, despite the threat to repossess the sewing machine. She seemed to be quite calm about the matter. Adeline, on the other hand, cried herself to sleep, wondering what would become of her family. "What will we eat? Where will we live?" Adeline's mother said God would not fail her, that He never had. Adeline couldn't see how God was going to help her mother keep the old sewing machine. When we don't see how things will improve, Habakkuk teaches us another lesson.

EVEN IN HARD TIMES, THERE IS REASON FOR JOY: VV17, 18:

Joy isn't necessarily happiness as we know happiness. Happiness depends upon what happens to us; it is happenstance. Joy is an inner, not-based-on-the-circumstance sense that all is still well.

In the text, the words Habakkuk used mean "to jump for joy or to triumph; to be glad, or to spin around."
Joy, in the New Testament sense, means "calm delight, to have a sense of being well-off."

Think about this:

We are happy if things are going our way; we can have Christian joy even if they are not.
We are happy if people aren't stupid and vexatious; we can have Christ's joy even when they are.
We are happy if we are secure and comfortable; we can have Christ's joy even if we are not.
We are happy if we feel good and are healthy; we can have Christian joy even when we don't.

The one is based on what happens to me, the other is based on what I do with what happens to me.
There is reason for joy even in hard times because:

Sorrow isn't the final word for the Christian. "For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning." Psalms 30:5. For that we can be grateful.
God knows what we lack and provides what we need just when we need it most: "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19. For that we can be appreciative.
Even in times of sorrow, we can live in fellowship with Him who possesses all joy. "Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever." Psalms 16:11. For that we can give thanks!
God's Grace is always sufficient and His strength perfect in our weakness! Paul knew it and wrote, "And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

Adeline's mother knew the secret of experiencing calm joy even when things were pretty bleak. The day the men were to come for the sewing machine there was a knock at the kitchen door. Adeline was frightened as a child would be, because she was sure it was those dreaded men. Instead, a nicely dressed man stood at the door with a baby in his arms. He asked her mother if she was Mrs. Hill. When she said she was, he said, "I'm in trouble this morning and you have been recommended by the druggist and grocer down the street as an honest and wonderful woman." He explained that his wife had been rushed to the hospital that morning, and since he had no relatives there, and he had to open his dentist office, he had nowhere to leave the baby. He asked if Mrs. Hill could possibly take care of her for a few days. He continued, "I will even pay you in advance." Then he took out ten dollars and gave it to Mrs. Hill. She smiled and said, "Yes, yes, I will be glad to do so," and took the baby from his arms. When the man left, Mrs. Hill turned to Adeline with tears streaming down a face that looked as though a light was shining on it. She said, "I knew God would never let them take away my machine." She knew that somehow, in some way, God would prove to be sufficient to meet her needs. That's another lesson we learn from Habakkuk.

FAITH KNOWS THAT THE LORD IS ENOUGH: VV17-19:

See what the prophet said:

"The Lord is my strength": The word means "resource, army or band of soldiers."
"He makes my feet like hind's feet": a hind was a deer like animal and if you've ever seen a deer trip along you know it is sure and light-footed.
"He makes me walk on high places": that is "He lifts me up above all my troubles."

Others have found that the Lord is enough:

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For Thou alone, O Lord, dost make me to dwell in safety." Psalms 4:8. He knew that the Lord is enough.
"Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth." declared the Asaph, the Psalmist. Psalms 73:25. He realized that the Lord is adequate.
When many left off following Him, Jesus asked the other disciples if they would leave, too. Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life." John 6:68. He recognized that the Lord is enough.
On the Mount of Transfiguration, when Moses and Elijah met with Jesus, Peter thought it would be wonderful to stay there. He suggested building tents for all three. God spoke from heaven saying, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" Matthew 17:5. God was underscoring the truth that the Lord Jesus Christ is enough.

There have been times when I have been so depressed, so discouraged, so overwhelmed that I thought there was no answer, no way up or out -- But the adequate, sufficient Jesus has always been there to guide, strengthen, assist and protect. For that I am unendingly grateful.
And if we believe that He is adequate, that He is sufficient, that He is enough, then no matter what else we may lose, no matter what may happen to us, no matter how difficult the way, no matter what we lack, we can still be grateful. We can be joyful and thankful because He is willing, able and faithful to provide what we need.

As William Cullen Bryant said, "The Power Who pities man has shown a blessing for the eyes that weep. The light of smiles shall fill again the lids that overflow with tears; and weary hours of woe and pain are promises of happier years. There is a day of sunny rest for every dark and troubled night; and grief may bide an evening quest, but joy shall come with early light. For God hath marked each sorrowing day, and numbered every secret tear, and Heaven's long age of bliss shall pay for all His children suffer here." Are you in pain today? Thank Him anyway. Are you in sorrow or grief? Be grateful anyhow. Though your crops fail, and your entire life may seem to come apart at the seams, there is cause for gratitude because you can still have Jesus. And you can have Jesus if you will simply make Him Lord of your life. Would you bring Him your gratitude today? Then bring Him your burdens, bring Him your sins, and then bring Him your life in faithful, obedient trust. Whatever is going on in your life, just thank Him anyway and demonstrate it by trusting and obeying!

Adeline Perkins in "A 5th Portion Of Chicken Soup For The Soul," Canfield & Hansen, Health Communications, Inc., Deerfield, Florida.

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