Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

To me, the sentiment expressed by Habakkuk is indicative not of willful self-deception, but of the type of profound faith exhibited by Job when he said of God in Job 13:15, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him," despite the tremendous suffering that God's permissive will had allowed Satan to inflict; or Paul's expression of confidence in the midst of persecution in Romans 8:18 and Romans 8:37-39.

14 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

"Get the picture of Habakkuk 3:17-18. Habakkuk lists all the evidences of emptiness and despair and sorrow in this world, a fig tree not blossoming, no fruit on the vines, the olive having no produce, the fields yielding no food, the flock being cut off from the fold. There’s no herd in the stalls. It was just empty. Everything is empty and dry and barren in this world. That’s the picture here, and then Habakkuk says, 'Yet in the middle of the dryness and the barrenness and the emptiness of everything in this world, everything we look to in this world, we long for in this world, we need in this world, even food, amidst emptiness and barrenness, yet, I will rejoice in the Lord. I will take joy in the God of my salvation.'” -- David Platt

I would put it more like this. Habakkuk 3:17-18 is a powerful declaration of faith, not self-deception. He acknowledges the worst-case scenario—no figs, no grapes, no crops, no livestock—yet he chooses to rejoice in the Lord. This isn’t a denial of reality; it’s a recognition that his ultimate security and joy come from God, not circumstances. It’s the kind of faith that sees beyond the immediate hardship and trusts in God's sovereignty and goodness.

It’s a reminder for us, too—faith doesn’t mean ignoring difficulties but trusting God through them.

Tim Maas had a good answer. Another cross-reference I think would be 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9.

1:6 For it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 1:7 and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. 1:8 With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 1:9 They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength.

9 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report