This past Sunday, we began a new series in the book of Habakkuk titled “Hope in the Midst of Chaos.” The image that anchors our series is that of a lone tree in the desert—surrounded by dust, dryness, and desolation—yet still standing. Rooted. Reaching. Alive.
It’s a powerful metaphor for the message of Habakkuk: that even in the harshest of conditions, life with God can flourish—not because the environment is favourable, but because our roots run deep into the character of a faithful and unchanging God.
In our first message, “Honest Questions,” we encountered a prophet who doesn’t preach to people, but instead pours out his heart directly to God. Habakkuk isn’t afraid to wrestle. He asks, “How long, Lord?”—a cry many of us know too well.
This ancient lament reminds us that it’s okay to feel the weight of a broken world. It’s okay to feel burdened by injustice, violence, and silence. And it’s okay to bring that burden to God. In fact, Scripture shows us that lament is not the absence of faith, but often the most honest expression of it.
God’s answer to Habakkuk is both unexpected and unsettling—He is raising up the Babylonians, a nation more wicked than Judah, to bring judgment. It’s not the kind of answer you’d expect from a holy God. And yet, even here, we see a vital truth emerge:
God is at work—even when we don’t see it.
This truth doesn’t erase our questions, but it does give us an anchor. Our God is not absent, indifferent, or overwhelmed. He is sovereign, wise, and just—even when His ways confound us.
So let me ask you:
- What burden are you carrying today?
- What questions are you wrestling with?
- Are you willing to bring them honestly to God?
As we move through this series, I invite you to lean in—to the discomfort, the mystery, and the hope. Bring your questions. Bring your grief. God is not offended by our honesty. He welcomes it. And He meets us there—not always with easy answers, but always with Himself.
Like a tree in the desert, may your faith find deep roots in Him this week.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Ken