One of the great marks of leadership is the ability to ask the right questions when others are not; that is, when many individuals spew out emotionally motivated reactions, the leader of faith has the ability to stay calm, see the big picture, and respond to the situation with a sense of articulated urgency.
Habakkuk lived during dangerous and perilous times to say the least. They were treacherous times because the Babylonians, also referred to as the Chaldeans, were marching toward the Kingdom of Judah to destroy it. God was using the Chaldeans to deliver his judgment on Judah because they were a people who had become self reliant instead of relying on the Lord. The book of Habakkuk is a conversation between God and the prophet revolving around the approaching and apparently inevitable tragedy soon to arrive on Judah's doorstep. It has been said that Habakkuk is the "doubting Thomas" of the Old Testament because he asked so many questions of God. One of the questions he asked, which is possibly asked more now by Christians than ever before is "why would God allow this tragedy to take place?" or why does God allow any tragedy to take place?" Why the phone call in the middle of the night? Why the hurricane? Why the tsunami? Why the wildfires? Disease? War? Why do my parents have to divorce? The questions keep coming and yet the answer never seems to follow. This could possibly be because we are asking the wrong questions, but God, in his infinite grace and wisdom, responds to the question that Habakkuk, as well as you and I, should be asking, "how do we live in times of tragedy and uncertainty?" God answers this question with two little words, "By faith" (2:4). In the final words of Habakkuk, we see one of the greatest confessions of faith in all of Scripture. Listen to this leaders vivid expression of faith while keeping in mind that the destruction of life as he knew it might be just over the horizon. Read Habakkuk 3:16-19
1. Leaders of faith are marked by patience during times of tragedy (v. 16)
With the cloud of judgment approaching and the inevitable destruction growing nearer with every passing moment, Habakkuk began to be gripped by fear to the innermost parts of his being. The language used here describes the prophet as weak and enfeebled in light of these uncertain times. But then the prophet says, "that I might rest in the days of trouble." That is, even though the destruction was cause for fear, he would not run away but would rather wait patiently for the Lord to do his work. I am by no means suggesting that the natural disasters that have taken place in recent years are the judgment of God but what I want you to understand is that it is important to remember that even in the days of destruction, God still controls nature. In days of uncertainty, one should be marked by patience in the Lord. That is, while everybody is running in disarray saying, "All is lost! All is lost!" an individual of faith says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very help in trouble." (Ps. 46:1) In the midst of destruction, leaders of faith do not look around in panic but look up and are calm.
2. Leaders of faith are marked by a decision to rejoice during times of tragedy (v.17,18).
It is amazing that possessions, homes, and one's environment can be swept away by a natural disaster and yet a believer can go on worshipping God. It is incredible that church buildings can be knocked down to the foundation and yet communities can still have church service. Why? Because worship is not dependent upon a list of blessings that we have been given but rather it is dependent on Jesus and He never changes . One particular church that I know of, even as this article is being written, is still under water and currently has members dispersed all over the nation. A friend of mine was recently speaking in Michigan and was approached by one of those members. She asked if there was a chance that my friend would be speaking to her pastor any time soon to which he responded that he would be speaking with him next week. Excited, she said, "Tell my pastor we are ok, we are living everything he has taught us." Leaders of faith can rejoice in the Lord during times of uncertainty.
3. Leaders of faith are marked by confidence in God during times of tragedy (v.19).
Habakkuk declares, "The Lord God is my strength." I have often thought about how I would have responded had I lived in New Orleans. How would I react if all my stuff was gone? Would I have had confidence in the God of my salvation or would I have been marked by chaos and disarray? Many of us have little confidence because we have very little faith and the reason we have little faith is because we know very little about the God of our salvation. It has often been said at SLU that leaders are prepared and that leaders look further down the road but how do you prepare for destruction of this magnitude? The answer can only found in knowing God and walking "by faith."