The Power of Yet
Recently my church has been walking through the book of Habakkuk. In case you knew it existed, but do not know the content, like me, the brief description is that it is a 3 chapter book that begins in agony and ends with choosing to praise despite circumstances staying the same. (Sorry for no spoiler alert, but there truly is more meat to it and I highly recommend you read it! Again, it is only 3 short chapters.)
Over the three weeks of us going through this book, I have been overwhelmed with what God has been teaching me each week, just as I need it, and just as He always does. The first week was a reminder to be still and to wait. The next week was the reminder that waiting in patience does not mean there is not action to be taken on our end. The final week ended with the encouragement to choose praise in the yet. Choose to rejoice in our sorrow. Choose joy in our circumstances, no matter what they are; choose joy in the mourning.
As I ponder how these three points so clearly displayed in Scripture apply to us in our grief, here is what comes to mind:
1) Be still and wait. - This is something that comes naturally to some in grief and is the opposite of natural to others, depending on who we are, how we grieve, and where we are in the grieving process. Sometimes grief may seem so overwhelming that all we can do is sit still and wait for God to move. On the other hand, sometimes grief may seem so overwhelming that our natural inclination is to distract ourselves and stay busy, in hopes that God will heal us more without us having to fully acknowledge the void that we are encountering in grief. For me, the latter has continued to be easier in the short term, but definitely more difficult when I take the time to pause and sit and reflect. To me, it is a challenge to be still and to wait, but it is also something I have been growing in over the last several years.
2) Waiting in patience does not equal no action. - Almost to the opposite extreme of what is described in point 1, it seems that getting too comfortable sitting in the waiting can be a bad thing. Sitting and waiting on God does not mean we are doing nothing. This could be the equivalent to dwelling on our losses without ever talking about it, seeking help, or sharing our experiences with others. Although we know suffering and healing are ongoing and seemingly unending, we can also know that it is most beneficial for ourselves and those around us for us to take action and to do something in our waiting.
3) Choose praise in the yet. - This may seem like an odd point, but it stands firm in importance. The reality of our circumstances of grief is that we will continue grieving. It is inevitable. Once grief begins, it does not end. Time moves and we grow as grief challenges us, but it is never ending. Accepting those circumstances, we have a choice to make. Will we sit and let grief steal our joy or will we choose to find joy yet our situations remain? Will we choose to sulk in sorrow or will we choose to rejoice yet while we are in sorrow? Will we choose to be overcome by our grief or will we choose to take joy in God yet our grief remains? There is power in Christ in us getting those choices. There is power and healing to be found in the yet.
The choices are ours to make. As the choices may be difficult to walk through, let us not be overcome in our grief. Let us find encouragement from each other and encouragement from the Word. Let us choose joy this week and make the words of Habakkuk 3:18-19 our own, "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength."
