I felt the hot tears escape my eyes as I stood, encircled by faithful voices, singing the familiar Christmas carols. The lyrics of a weary world rejoicing usually brought a rush of delight and anticipation. Yet this time, the paradox of the still weary world felt like too much.
My burdens felt too heavy, and my heart was tired. A middle schooler I loved struggled with mental health in ways that felt impossible. My concern for the believers in Afghanistan weighed on me. Lack of integrity in politics smacked me in the face, and the misuse of power by other leaders in the church made my stomach churn. Singing songs of celebration lifted the mask of “I’m doing OK” Christmas greetings and revealed the disillusionment my heart truly felt.
You and I sometimes feel the tension of celebration in a hurting world. We sing “light and life to all He brings” and believe that Jesus has risen “with healing in his wings” (Mal. 4:2, NIV). Still, we also ache for healing to penetrate the crevasses of society now. Ignoring the chaos feels false and uncaring. Our mouths may sing, but inside we ask God, How long are you going to leave it like this?
We’re not the only ones who have wrestled this way. It’s been the place of the people of God for generations, and when we look for the path, we have guides. The biblical prophets have walked the road before us, and they offer to take our hands.
One prophet began his book with those same questions we are, thinking, How long, Lord? But then he walks us to a place of joyful celebration, without sticking his head in the sand to ignore this chaotic world. Isn’t that what we want? Honest grief and genuine joy? Let’s take a look at Habakkuk’s road of faith.
- See it all—the pain and corruption.
First, face the brokenness; we don’t have to pretend it isn’t there. Habakkuk saw the world around him in chaos and asked God how long he would have to cry for help. In the first chapter of his book, he called out against violence, corruption, and the taking advantage of others (Hab. 1:2-4). He wasn’t complaining out of a lack of faith but because he saw a world that was not how it should be and believed God cared. So, he lamented—he prayed, expressing his grief in words. These weren’t solemn, timid prayers but protests to a trusted God. Our response to anger, fear, and heartbreak this Christmas can be faithful and fiery prayers.
You have permission to spend time looking at the Christmas tree in the quiet before the house wakes up and asks God how long until He acts. You may tell him where you see the evil running rampant in this world. More so, you can tell him how you feel with passion, like Habakkuk (or David in Ps. 13). It truly is the way of an honest relationship with God in a sin-marred world.
- Look forward—where God is taking us.
After we lament, sometimes we feel the silence fall on us. What would God say to us? It can help to see what He said to our honest prophet. It’s for us too.
Habakkuk’s prayer conversation led to a vision from the Lord that showed the way forward (Hab 2:4). It gave us a picture of two kinds of people. Look, there are the proud without integrity headed for judgment, and there are those who live by faith. The righteous one will live by his or her faith.
It’s faith that God will bring justice one day—looking forward to where God will take us. It’s faith that would even sing of the consequences coming on those who mistreat others, for the rest of the chapter gives us words for such a song. It’s a faith lived out in faithfulness because we look forward to the day God makes all things right.
So, you and I lament and also remember the hope of what God will ultimately do. He will judge and bring consequences on those who would use their power to abuse others. More so, He will fill this earth with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea because of the work of Jesus (Hab. 2:14). We’re sustained in lament as we look up and forward.
- Gaze back—celebrate what God has done.
When we get to the third chapter of the book of Habakkuk, it’s as if the prophet had processed all he heard from the Lord, like we may need to do on a solitary walk through the neighborhood Christmas lights. After remembering where God is taking this world, Habakkuk wrote a song that filled the final chapter. It’s a song that begins with prayer, moves into a declaration of God’s work, and ends with joy. Remember the honest celebration we want? He’s giving us directions.
The song is flashy, with dramatic images that remind us of God’s work to save His people in the Exodus. Habakkuk wrote a song to help his people gaze back at what God had already done. He is the God who delivered and will one day finish His work! It’s as if Habakkuk knew we needed lyrics to meditate on the familiar history.
The song closes with verses that stop me in my tracks each time I read them. He says that though he would lose all he had—every last source of stability—
“yet I will celebrate in the LORD;
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!”
Habakkuk 3:18
Even in the instability and chaos of this world, Habakkuk knew he still had God. He would lament and walk the way of faith, which mingled fear, grief, and joy together.
He knew that God had heard his prayers and cared; He would make things right one day. For now, he would celebrate the God who saves.
Six hundred years later, a pregnant teen spoke of God the same way Habakkuk did. She said she would rejoice in God, her Savior, for He had done great things (Luke 1:46-49). And He had. The Baby born from her womb was the incarnate God in whom Habakkuk hoped for things made right, just as we do today.
Lament and Celebrate
If you cry as you sing this Christmas, don’t be afraid to see the brokenness of this world and lament. Yet do not forget what our God is doing and will do. Habakkuk led the way for us, and he would say: as you sing, let the lyrics remind you of the familiar history of what God has done. For our brother before us said that even in the grief, we can celebrate the God of our salvation.
Taylor Turkington (MA, DMin) directs the training ministry BibleEquipping where she also teaches and coaches Bible teachers. Previously, she directed training ministries for The Gospel Coalition and Western Seminary, and today serves on the board of an evangelical seminary. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her family where she enjoys growing tall flowers, drinking great tea, and paddling the rivers. www.Tremblingfaith.com
