I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint. Habakkuk 2:1
Picture climbing to the top of a tower. Each step takes effort and energy as you proceed higher. Minutes pass as you make your way to the top. But the effort is worth it! When you get to the top, your view is expanded. Your limited perspective at ground level changes. You turn in all directions and can see the world with a new viewpoint. Things you hadn’t seen before are now visible.
Habakkuk is impatient for God to come and help. All he can see is violence and evil, and cries, ‘How long, O LORD, must I call for help?’
Have you been waiting for God to come and help you? Does he seem distant and unresponsive? Does everything look difficult right now? Habakkuk would understand. How does he handle the waiting? How does he get perspective on the challenges that he faces? He “climbs the tower” to keep watch for God to come.
Take a moment right now to look up to God. You may not be able to see what he is doing for you right now . You may not feel sure that he is really present with you. Habakkuk challenges us to keep hoping and trusting and looking to God to help. Did you see God in the sunshine today? Or in a person’s kindness? Did you see him in an answer to prayer? Or in a mysterious coincidence that happened at just the right time? Hold on and keep looking for God.
God, help me to trust you when things seem dark and the waiting is long. Lift my eyes and heart to watch for you.
Marcia Marquardt