Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness., Lamentations 3:22-23Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight., Proverbs 3:5-6But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary., Isaiah 40:31Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God., Philippians 4:6-7The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing., Psalm 23:1Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go., Joshua 1:9For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future., Jeremiah 29:11Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest., Matthew 11:28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose., Romans 8:28God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble., Psalm 46:1For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life., John 3:16For we live by faith, not by sight., 2 Corinthians 5:7Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path., Psalm 119:105I can do all this through him who gives me strength., Philippians 4:13So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you., Isaiah 41:10I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth., Psalm 121:1-2Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see., Hebrews 11:1Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud., 1 Corinthians 13:4But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control., Galatians 5:22-23Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart., Psalm 37:4But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well., Matthew 6:33The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you., Zephaniah 3:17Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness., Lamentations 3:22-23Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight., Proverbs 3:5-6But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary., Isaiah 40:31Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God., Philippians 4:6-7The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing., Psalm 23:1Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go., Joshua 1:9For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future., Jeremiah 29:11Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest., Matthew 11:28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose., Romans 8:28God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble., Psalm 46:1For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life., John 3:16For we live by faith, not by sight., 2 Corinthians 5:7Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path., Psalm 119:105I can do all this through him who gives me strength., Philippians 4:13So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you., Isaiah 41:10I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth., Psalm 121:1-2Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see., Hebrews 11:1Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud., 1 Corinthians 13:4But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control., Galatians 5:22-23Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart., Psalm 37:4But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well., Matthew 6:33The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you., Zephaniah 3:17

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Joy When the Fig Tree Fails

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August 8

Joy When the Fig Tree Fails

MO

Matthew (Tolu) Olowoyeye

Founder · The Berean

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Fruit of the Spirit

Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines… yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
, Habakkuk 3:17-18

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Habakkuk paints a picture of total loss, no blossom on the fig tree, no fruit on the vine, no crops in the field, no herd in the stall. Everything that a farmer's livelihood and security depended upon, gone. And then, against all of it, he plants a defiant word: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. This is joy at its deepest and most tested, joy that survives when every earthly reason for joy has been stripped away.

Here we see the difference between happiness and the joy that is the fruit of the Spirit. Happiness depends on happenings; when the circumstances fail, it fails with them. But this joy has a different root. Habakkuk does not rejoice in the harvest, the herd, or the comfort, he rejoices in the Lord, in the God of his salvation, who remains his even when all else is lost. Such joy cannot be taken away, because the One it rests on cannot be taken away.

If your fig tree is bare today, you may still have this joy. It does not grow in the field; it grows in God.

Take Into The Day

If circumstances have failed you, practise Habakkuk's defiant "yet." Name honestly what has gone wrong, then deliberately add, "yet I will rejoice in the Lord." Root your joy in God, who remains, not in what you have lost.

Prayer

Lord, teach me Habakkuk's "yet." When the fig tree of my circumstances does not blossom, let me still rejoice in You, the God of my salvation. You cannot be taken from me, so my joy in You cannot be taken either. Be my joy today. Amen.

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