“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.”
Habbakuk 1:2-3 (ESV)
Have you ever made up a worst-case scenario in your mind?
As moms, we do this all the time with our kids, right? We let anxious thoughts override faithful thoughts, and one by one we spiral into thinking our kids are doomed. Been there. Sometimes, if we’re being honest, these worst-case thoughts can be aimed at God.
Habbakuk, an Old Testament prophet, had a few of these worst-case scenario 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 serious 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 anymore. You’re doing nothing to help me.” Wouldn’t that be the worst thing that could happen to us; that God isn’t who He says He is? Habbakuk went there in his mind, and I wonder if you’ve gone there in your mind, too.
Friend, 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. In our mental moments, we can choose to flip the direction of our thoughts toward truth.
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. (Psalm 139:10)
Will you choose to believe the best about God and His plans today? Despite difficult circumstances, He always has the bigger picture in mind when it comes to you and your children.
In those gut-wrenching moments when you’re tempted to believe the worst about our Father, He still believes the best about you. You’re his daughter, and He’s not going anywhere. Let’s live our lives as if God is who He says He is, and choose to trust Him at His Word.
Your fellow Able Mom,
Mandy
Lord, thank You for never turning Your back on us when we assume the worst. Forgive us when we doubt. Help us to know You better so we can trust You deeper. Protect our children and help us to see Your mighty hand at work no matter what is happening around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
When you feel yourself getting anxious thoughts, what is one truth you can focus on instead?
Connect with Mandy :
IG: @mandycjohnson
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