Hope in the Waiting

Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines . . . I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! —Habakkuk 3:17–18

When there’s no visible means for joy around me, I can still be joyful because I have the Lord. The prophet Habakkuk had this faith, as did the author of Psalms 42–43. We see his anticipation of God’s deliverance when he repeats three times, “Put your hope in God” (42:5, 11; 43:5).

That word hope means “to wait, to tarry, to hope, to expect, to be patient, to trust.” We don’t like the “waiting” part of hope. We want the problem to be solved. However, part of hoping is waiting.

I don’t know how long you need to wait in your current situation. However, it’s important to remember you’re not just waiting on other people to change or for your circumstances
to be different. If you were, you might not have hope at all. But you are waiting on God; your hope is in Him. So cling to Him, be patient, and trust in Him while you’re waiting.