It’s Time to Sing?
Early one crisp morning I stepped out on the back porch, coffee mug in hand. It was late February, and there was still snow on the ground. And that’s when I heard it: bird song! A male cardinal sat in our leafless butterfly bush singing his heart out–at 36 degrees Fahrenheit!
“How do you know winter’s over?” I said to him. He answered back in song–though not in English,🎶 “I don’t. I just know it’s time to establish my territory, find a mate, and build a nest.”🎶
The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk had a similar experience. Things weren’t looking too “spring like” in Judah when he cried out to God, “How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” –Habakkuk 1:2 (NIV)
God told the questioning prophet that even MORE trouble was coming. Jerusalem was about to be leveled by the ruthless Babylonians. But the Lord offers the beleaguered Habbakuk a timeless piece of advice: “But the righteous will live by his faith.”–Habakuk 2:4 (NIV)
At the end of the book the prophet takes God at His word. Like my cardinal friend he says–in so many syllables–even though things don’t look promising at the moment, “I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”— Habakkuk 3:18 (NIV).
Kind reader, a big part of faith is faithfulness–consistent obedience to God, no matter the weather. It’s time to sing!
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️
David Duncan is an ordained Southern Baptist minister turned elementary school administrator. He and his wife have three grown sons, but no grandchildren. They live in the Midwestern United States, with their Schnauzer, Cooper. David blogs at davidsdailydose.org, where he shares positive thoughts from a Christian perspective.
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