Panic Begins
Habakkuk 1:1-3 (NIrV)
‘This is a vision the prophet Habakkuk received from the LORD. Here is what Habakkuk said.
“LORD, how long do I have to call out for help?
Why don’t you listen to me?
How long must I keep telling you that things are terrible?
Why don’t you save us?
Why do you make me watch while people treat others so unfairly?
Why do you put up with the wrong things they are doing?
I have to look at death.
People are harming others. They are arguing and fighting all the time.”‘
For Habakkuk the future looked ominous, he couldn’t understand why God was not intervening.
Pastor Chip Ingram is on record as saying, ‘Christians are like teabags. You never know what kind you are until you are in hot water.’ (Pastor Ralph Browne “Chip” Ingram Il.)
- What sort of hot water have you been in recently?
- Can you recall a time in your life that would endorse Chip’s comment?
- How do you usually react when life throws you into a state of unexpected confusion?
- When things get too hot around you, how can you best control your reactions?
Approaching panic
A little girl was taking a long train journey. As she looked out the window, ahead she saw a frightening stretch of water. How would the train ever get them across to the other side? She squeezed her eyes shut in terror as the train wheels thundered closer to the river.
When she next looked, she discovered they were on the other side. A few minutes later, to her horror, she saw another rushing stretch of water ahead. Not again!
Once more, she squeezed her eyes shut. Once more, when she opened her eyes, the train had crossed to the other side.
Throughout the course of the day, her train crossed a number of rivers. Each time she saw the water ahead she felt just a little less anxious, but as long as she closed her eyes, the train made it safely to the other side. She couldn’t understand how they would be able to cross the river.
Eventually, she became brave. Nervously, she kept her eyes open as they drew near to the next river. She had to see how the train managed this amazing feat.
Suddenly, a large metal bridge appeared and the train roared across without a break in its speed. This happened several times.
Finally, the child leaned back with a sigh of relief and confidence: “Somebody has put bridges for us all the way.” (Adapted from American Messenger,1922)
Bridge at Victoria Falls – Oil painting by Rob Corder 2004
- Are you facing a situation where you are terrified of what’s ahead?
- an interview?
- a disciplinary hearing?
- an upcoming confrontation?
- a court appearance?
- a crumbling marriage?
- failing health – your own or your partner’s . . . ?
No Sign of a Bridge!
Now is when you need to close your eyes—not in terror, but in prayer. You have no idea how your train is going to cross this terrible obstacle, but place your faith in the One who has built a bridge for you to cross over.
The crisis may have taken you by surprise. Let’s face it. Not one person saw what was looming ahead in 2020! But God did. He is never taken by surprise. He knows what’s coming, and He’s already built a bridge. We just need to trust.
From the questions Habakkuk was firing at God, we can see he was confused and frustrated. He couldn’t understand God’s seeming failure to take action in the face of all the violence and destruction directed against the Jews. There didn’t seem to be any way the nation could survive this impossible situation. They had a river to cross – but no bridge.
Haven’t we asked similar questions during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic?
- Will we survive?
- Is the vaccine a bridge?
- Should I take it now, or wait until it’s had a chance to prove its effectiveness?
- Will it work against the variants recently discovered in my country?
- Is there another way to overcome this virus?
Although the prophet was confused and panicked, God was ahead of him. He had already made a plan. But Habakkuk had to wait for God to show him. We’ll learn more about those plans in future sessions. In the meantime, let’s hold onto this truth.
We may be aware of raging rivers ahead of us. But God has a plan. He’s already built bridges for us—we have to sit tight and wait for that plan.
What bridge has God created for you in your current situation? Read Pastor Rob's blog. Please RT. Share on XLooking for a bridge
- Can you think of a bridge that God provided to enable you to overcome a difficult situation in your past?
- Are you looking at a raging river right now? What proof can you think of that Someone has gone ahead of you and built a bridge?
- Close your eyes and give thanks.
Finish our time together as you quietly listen to this beautiful song by Don Moen. If you know the melody, join in and sing along. Click on the link below:
Thank you Rob. It is good for us to look back and remember the numerous times God has made a way in what we thought was an impossible situation. His ways are perfect and always on time. Trust and obey, God knows best.