Arguing with God
Habakkuk 3:18-19
Take a look at the closing verse of book of Habakkuk. The protesting prophet concludes, “The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills” (3:18). What a weird closing line.
God made his feet like… deer hooves? Has Habakkuk lost it? No. He just understands something about deer that we don’t. When a deer moves forward, their hind hooves step exactly where their front hooves did. It prevents them from tripping or stumbling. This enables them to navigate hazardous hillsides with ease.
Habakkuk doesn’t look to God just for conflict resolution. He looks to God for resilience. God is going to give him durability, steadiness, and the ability to navigate tough terrain. His next season won’t be easy, but God will give him the strength to get through it.
Sometimes we pray for God to take away our problems when we should be praying for God to help us overcome them. When we tackle our troubles with God, we become more resilient, vigorous, and courageous. Habakkuk’s argument with God should be a template for us. Be open with God about your desires, but be obedient to compromise. Instead of removing your problems, God may want you to walk through them with Him.