We know we should praise The Lord and give thanks. But is it ok to complain to The Lord?
There is great evidence throughout The Bible that God was very patient with His whining, grumbling people. But at some point, He let them all know He was God and they were not.
I have many reasons to be thankful. God has blessed me and is blessing me. But, life is not perfect by my standards. I want some things changed … resolved … solved.
I want to express my frustration and yell, “How long, oh Lord, how long?” I want to know when and how God is going to act to make things right.
The prophet Habakkuk complained. Chapter 1 lays out some of the same things we might say today.
“How long, Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’
but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.”
Habakkuk 1:2-4
God’s Answer was then and is now
“Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.”
Habakkuk 1:5
God then even gave Habakkuk more details about what would happen in his time. But Habakkuk was not satisfied. He continued with his complaint.
“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
Why are you silent while the wicked
swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”
Habakkuk 1:13
Habakkuk then waited to see what God would say. Often I do not wait. If God does not instantly answer, I complain some more.😳
Habakkuk said,
“I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what He will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.”
Habakkuk 2:1
God answered. His Answer was then as it is now. “I will act in My Time. Wait for it!”
The Lord answered.
“The revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay!”
Habakkuk 2:2-3
His Answer is not only an Answer for the world. It is an Answer for us personally.
Whatever you are going through right now, this is what God is saying to you. Receive it and thank God for it!
“I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.”
“The revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay!”
