by Jordyn van Gaalen

Like the Feet of a Deer

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“I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled.
Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”
Habakkuk 3:16-19 New International Version (NIV) 

Recently, we have all experienced forms of trouble and calamity. There may not be a nation coming to invade us, but we have had death and disease sweep across our world. Like Habakkuk, have you had moments where your heart pounded, your lips quivered, or your legs trembled?

Do you ever struggle with understanding the why or the purpose of hardship? 

Disaster is coming on the Israelites and Habakkuk has no way of preventing the events. He cannot stop what has been foretold. But after crying out to the Lord in complaint, Habakkuk surrenders and leans into God. 

In the suffering and in the loss, Habakkuk says, “Yet I will rejoice. Yet I will be joyful” (v. 18).

YET

Rather than remaining in a state of fear and despair, Habakkuk leans into God. Rather than being filled with worry, Habakkuk is filled with joy and confidence in God. He trusts, knowing that God is in control and God knows best. Regardless of the circumstances, he will rejoice.

In the closing verse, Habakkuk proclaims “The Sovereign Lord is my strength.” He prays for feet like the feet of a deer. 

I would see deer on nearly every run during my summers working at camp. I would typically startle them and then get to see them run up higher into the mountains. So smooth and gentle and fluid, a slight whooshing sound as they pranced. They glide over boulders and sweep around trees and leap across rivers. They are unaffected by the hazardous landscape. Habakkuk is praying for that kind of strength to battle the troubles thrown our way. The Lord is our strength.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado