Joe Wilson, President Obama, Serena Williams, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, and HabakkukPeople love to vent and express their disagreements when things don’t go their way. Take Congressman Joe Wilson from South Carolina for example. Last week, as President Obama was addressing congress and the nation regarding his plans for healthcare, Congressman Wilson defiantly interrupted the president’s speech when he unprecedentedly shouted “You lie!” as a result of his passionate disagreement with what the president was saying.
Take Serena Williams for example. Yesterday morning, during a tennis match, Williams cussed-out and even physically threatened a line judge because Williams vehemently disagreed with a call that was made.
Take Kanye West for example. Last night, during MTV’s Video Music Awards, West was so upset that Taylor Swift had won a VMA, which he felt should have gone to Beyoncé, that he stormed the stage, grabbed the microphone away from Swift (during the first few moments of her acceptance speech), and proceeded to tell the world what he thought about it.
Yes, indeed! – People love to vent and express their disagreements, and as the above stories reveal, people will sometimes say how they feel directly “in the faces” of those they disagree with! But lest you think it can’t get any worse than the stories mentioned above, as for being outrageous and shocking (not to mention rude and out of place), let me tell you about a guy who was so upset with someone that he did the unthinkable.
The Bible’s Habakkuk is the man I’m referring to, and he did exactly what Wilson, Williams, and West did! – Only, after seeing a situation that he didn’t like, he “blew up” and voiced his opinion towards “GOD!” (If you have the time, read the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, which will only take you a few minutes in total, as it is only three small chapters in length).
Habakkuk was upset with God because Habakkuk thought God was not listening to his prayers and because God was allowing injustice to occur all around him. Habakkuk was so outraged with God that he said, “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what [God] will say to me” (Habakkuk 2:1). In other words, Habakkuk was getting in God’s face, per se. He was venting towards God!
It wasn’t until Habakkuk simmered down and came to his senses (after some much needed conversation with God) that he was able to finally say, “[Even though bad things are happening all around me], I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my savior. The sovereign Lord is my strength. … He enables me to go to the heights.”
Perhaps you have been venting towards God lately – about things that he has allowed. You might have gotten in God’s face about your finances, or family problems, or any number of seemingly unanswered prayers …and perhaps you’re just waiting on God to come down off of his heavenly throne and explain himself to you. If this is you, don’t feel too bad; we’ve all been there (like Habakkuk).
The good news is this: God listens to our vents, and he understands where we’re coming from. The even better news is this: After spending some quality time in conversation with God (through prayer and the reading of his word), we too will be able to look at the negative circumstances around us and say, “I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my savior!”
Take Serena Williams for example. Yesterday morning, during a tennis match, Williams cussed-out and even physically threatened a line judge because Williams vehemently disagreed with a call that was made.
Take Kanye West for example. Last night, during MTV’s Video Music Awards, West was so upset that Taylor Swift had won a VMA, which he felt should have gone to Beyoncé, that he stormed the stage, grabbed the microphone away from Swift (during the first few moments of her acceptance speech), and proceeded to tell the world what he thought about it.
Yes, indeed! – People love to vent and express their disagreements, and as the above stories reveal, people will sometimes say how they feel directly “in the faces” of those they disagree with! But lest you think it can’t get any worse than the stories mentioned above, as for being outrageous and shocking (not to mention rude and out of place), let me tell you about a guy who was so upset with someone that he did the unthinkable.
The Bible’s Habakkuk is the man I’m referring to, and he did exactly what Wilson, Williams, and West did! – Only, after seeing a situation that he didn’t like, he “blew up” and voiced his opinion towards “GOD!” (If you have the time, read the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, which will only take you a few minutes in total, as it is only three small chapters in length).
Habakkuk was upset with God because Habakkuk thought God was not listening to his prayers and because God was allowing injustice to occur all around him. Habakkuk was so outraged with God that he said, “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what [God] will say to me” (Habakkuk 2:1). In other words, Habakkuk was getting in God’s face, per se. He was venting towards God!
It wasn’t until Habakkuk simmered down and came to his senses (after some much needed conversation with God) that he was able to finally say, “[Even though bad things are happening all around me], I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my savior. The sovereign Lord is my strength. … He enables me to go to the heights.”
Perhaps you have been venting towards God lately – about things that he has allowed. You might have gotten in God’s face about your finances, or family problems, or any number of seemingly unanswered prayers …and perhaps you’re just waiting on God to come down off of his heavenly throne and explain himself to you. If this is you, don’t feel too bad; we’ve all been there (like Habakkuk).
The good news is this: God listens to our vents, and he understands where we’re coming from. The even better news is this: After spending some quality time in conversation with God (through prayer and the reading of his word), we too will be able to look at the negative circumstances around us and say, “I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my savior!”
