FAITH CAPSULE:  Always be thanking God with a heart full of joy in the face of adversity or challenge.

Psalm 16

Habakkuk 3:17 stated, “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls.” Is your labor experiencing challenges like that of fig tree situation as stated above? The word of Habakkuk 3:17 is a challenging which no man wants to pass through. It is challenging like a place in the depth of a valley where there seems no way out and no end in sight. Most challenges keep man not to rise and climb out of the depth of valley. With true sense, no man wants to sow with no result of fruitless. Indeed, it is not pleasant to have no fruit where the vines should be bringing forth fruit as the crown of labor. In life, when hard labor seems to be producing a result like that of lack of labor it becomes evidence that challenging is beyond man’s comprehension. Habakkuk stated a way of addressing comprehensive challenge, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:18) Without doubt, Joy and rejoicing is a way of gaining the presence God.
It is a heart of joy and rejoicing that give thanks to God regardless of comprehensive challenge. Word of God makes us to know that in the presence of God is the fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11) Think of it, where do you want to be found in the time of challenge that is beyond your comprehension? Think of it, in this wicked world of today, man should know that in the presence of God is to engage the way for solution. God is true to deliver when man decide to trust and hope in the hand of God.
Jesus was in the midst of the family of Lazarus at a time of mourning for Lazarus’ untimely death. As the family and friends were wailing, crying, and gnashing of teeth, Jesus in their midst “… lifted up His eyes and said, “Father I thank You that you have heard Me.” (John 11:41)  Try thanking Him with a heart full of joy in the face of adversity or challenge, and then wait to see if God will act or not on your behalf. If you will receive all that the Lord has put down in the pages of scripture for our learning, all the miracles that were testified will not escape you. Try God and see that He alone is faithful and true to His word of deliverance and preservation. If man will trust and hope in Him, He will enable man to walk on high places.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of knowing to be thanking God in all.