Hi Guys,
For today only, we are doing the zoom bible study at 10am PST. Thank you all for accomodating the schedule.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
We often find ourselves in situations where things seem to be falling apart. Maybe you’re going through financial struggles, a difficult season in relationships, or the loss of a job. Whatever the situation, it’s easy to feel like God is distant when everything around you feels like it's failing.
Habakkuk lived in a time of great turmoil, where destruction was normal and everything around him was falling apart. Despite this, Habakkuk chose to rejoice in the Lord. He didn’t base his joy on what was happening in his life or what he could see. He based it on the God who never changes. It’s easy to praise God when everything is going well, but God wants us to praise him also in times of distress.
The world teaches us to find joy in our successes, possessions, and accomplishments. But what happens when those things fade? The reality is that our circumstances will never stay the same. Abundance comes and goes, but our God remains constant. Habakkuk reminds us that even when the fig tree doesn’t blossom and there’s no fruit on the vine—even when everything feels barren—we can still rejoice in God.
Our joy is not rooted in what we have, but in who God is and what He has done for us through Jesus. There are times in life that feel barren, where it seems like everything we’ve worked for or hoped for has failed. But God is not absent in those moments. He uses these times to draw us closer to Him. He's constantly reminding us that our hope isn’t in this world but in his salvation.
Jesus already did the work on the cross to bring you into eternal relationship with God. This is the ultimate reason for joy, no matter what life throws at you.
I hope we can all rejoice in the word of God and the gospel of our salvation.
Lamentations 3:25-26 (KJV)
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
We live in a world of instant gratification. I remember back when receiving packages in a week was considered fast. Nowadays we can't even wait 2 days before wondering if our package was lost in transit. The internet although fascinating and advanced has truly corrupted our psyche. We no longer have the patience for anything and it shows even in our children.
Patience is often mislabeled as passive or weak. We have tons of "motivational speakers" who tell us to go out there and make stuff happen. But in God’s kingdom, patience is a form of deep trust. It’s believing that even when things seem slow, God is at work. Patience builds spiritual maturity. In Hebrew, the word for "wait" is קָוָה (qavah), which means to wait with expectation or hope.
Patience is not just waiting; it’s trusting in the timing of the One who holds eternity.
Patience is about knowing that God will fulfill all that he's promised.
Patience isn’t about sitting still; it’s about standing firm in faith.
True Patience is rooted in Christ, not in circumstances. It’s not about enduring with our own willpower, it’s about trusting the One who has already completed the most important work. In Hebrew, the word for salvation is יְשׁוּעָה (yeshuah), which is also linked to the name of Jesus. True patience comes from the knowledge that Jesus has already accomplished our salvation on the cross. When we grasp that our salvation is secured by Christ’s finished work, patience becomes a natural response.
We aren’t waiting for something uncertain. We know that through Jesus, we have already received eternal life and a secure future.
This changes our whole approach to waiting patiently. It’s no longer about uncertainty, but about trusting that God is aligning everything according to His will. We often face moments where we feel like we’re stuck, whether it’s in a difficult relationship, a challenging job, or waiting for an answer to prayer. But God wants us to trust him by waiting patiently, enduring all trials with hope.
The Hebrew word for "hope" in Lamentations is תִּקְוָה (tikvah), which means not just waiting but expecting. When you wait in this way, you no longer think "I hope this works out", but rather, "I know God will fulfill His promise because He is faithful." You often hear me say do not have expectations, but we can expect one thing, that God will finish what he starts.
Patience is not just a character trait, it is rooted in the fruit of Jesus Christ. When we struggle with impatience, it’s often because we’re relying on our own strength and understanding. Jesus ultimately has to give us patience, but we also must believe that he already has. If Jesus died on the cross and gave us eternal life, why wouldn't he be able to give us something as simple as patience?
This is the key to biblical patience, believing that Jesus has already given it to us. Patience is the by-product of remembering that all outcomes are rooted in Christ’s finished work.
I hope we can live confidently knowing that Jesus provided us all the patience in the world. We can move with boldness knowing that we are waiting on the One who never fails. When people see you waiting with peace and confidence, they see the power of the gospel at work in your life. They see that your hope isn’t in circumstances but in Christ, and this kind of patience speaks volumes.
Patience isn’t about time; it’s about trust. Different T's.
Amen!
