Attended Well

Figs might not grow on the fig trees, and grapes might not grow on the vines. Olives might not grow on the olive trees, and food might not grow in the fields. There might not be any sheep in the pens or cattle in the barns. But I will still be glad in the Lord and rejoice in God my Savior. The Lord God gives me my strength. He helps me run fast like a deer. He leads me safely on the mountains. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

None of us wants to hear of bad things happening, much less that we won't have food to eat, the land growing barren before us, the storehouses emptied of all reserve. Kind of sounds a little 'apocalyptic' doesn't it? Do 'lean times' mean we will trust God any less? I certainly hope not! The harder things get for us, the greater our faith is put to the test. The more it is tested, the more we find ourselves either turning into God, or running from what he is doing. The direction we take determines the outcome we will realize.

The Lord God gives me my strength. That one statement reveals more than we might first appreciate. Our strength isn't 'mustered up' in the lean or bad times. It comes because we serve a faithful God who delights in ensuring his children are 'attended well' in the worst of times. There is plenty of ugliness around us, but we don't have to get mired by it. There is a plethora of hurt everywhere we look, but we don't have to become the next victim. There is an abundance of misguided 'wisdom' given out from our airwaves and media outlets each day, but we don't have to let our hearts be burdened by the doom and gloom of their 'reports'. 

Why? Our strength is not our own. Our ability is not limited to that which we possess by nature. We have God's strength and ability to lead us forward, past all the negativity of the times, and straight into the goodness he will provide. One might think it is God's strength that is being tested in these difficult times, but his strength never wavers, so that cannot be it. The testing is meant to reveal where it is we find our rooting - will it be in the things of this world, or in the power and strength of the Almighty God? We might want to find a 'more friendly place' at the moment, but chances are the greatest amount of growth our 'roots' can realize is right where we find ourselves right now. Just saying!