Habakkuk Sermon Series
Part 2
Sermon follow-up 7/28/25
Introduction
We all hate waiting. Americans spend 37 billion hours each year waiting in line, and as Alex Stone's research on "why waiting is torture" shows, we'll do almost anything to avoid the feeling of stagnation. But what about waiting on God? How do we handle those seasons when we're stuck between God's promise and its fulfillment?
What Does It Mean to Wait on the Lord?
In the book of Habakkuk, we find a powerful model for waiting on God during uncertain times. The prophet Habakkuk shows us a three-part process that can transform our waiting from torture to trust:
Reminding Ourselves Who God Is
In Habakkuk 1:12, we see the prophet begin by anchoring himself in God's character: "Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die." Before bringing his complaints, Habakkuk first reminds himself of God's eternal nature and holiness.
This is crucial because Habakkuk is about to hold two seemingly contradictory truths in tension:
Both can be true simultaneously. We can trust God's character while still having honest questions about His methods.
How Do I Seek God's Perspective When I'm Waiting?
In chapter 2:1, Habakkuk says, "I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts. I will look to see what he will say to me." This military imagery of climbing to a high vantage point illustrates how we should actively seek God's perspective during waiting seasons.
This reminds us of Elijah in 1 Kings 18, who kept sending his servant to look for rain clouds after years of drought. Seven times he sent him, until finally a tiny cloud appeared. The lesson? Keep looking. Keep seeking. Don't give up after the first few attempts to gain God's perspective.
As Paul writes in Colossians 3:1-2: "Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Why Is Faith Essential During Waiting Seasons?
Habakkuk 2:4 contains one of the most pivotal verses in Scripture: "The righteous person will live by his faithfulness." This verse, quoted three times in the New Testament, reveals the central theme of not just Habakkuk but the entire Bible.
This verse presents two contrasting lifestyles:
Those who trust in themselves are like an inflated chip bag - they appear full but collapse at the slightest pressure. They're forced to maintain a persona of never failing because their identity depends on how others perceive them.
In contrast, those who live by faith in Jesus find their identity in what He has done, not in what they can do.
How Do I Keep My Faith Strong While Waiting?
Remember Peter walking on water - he began to sink only when he took his eyes off Jesus. The same is true for us in waiting seasons. We must keep our focus on Christ rather than on our circumstances.
One practical exercise is what we might call the "God is Faithful" exercise:
As you continue this practice, your heart will begin to remember God's faithfulness throughout your life.
How Can I Position Myself to Hear from God?
Habakkuk climbed the ramparts not just to look but to listen. Similarly, we need to position ourselves to hear from God during waiting seasons:
Life Application
If you're in a season of waiting right now, apply Habakkuk's model to your situation:
Remember who God is: Take time this week to write down God's attributes and ways He's been faithful to you personally. Start with the greatest demonstration of His faithfulness - sending Jesus.
Seek His perspective: Position yourself to hear from God by spending extra time in His Word and with His people. What might God be trying to show you from His vantage point that you can't see from yours?
Hold onto faith in Jesus: What area of your life are you tempted to take your eyes off Jesus? How might your waiting look different if you focused on Him rather than your circumstances?
Ask yourself: Am I waiting passively, or am I actively seeking God like Habakkuk on the ramparts? Am I defining my life by what I can do, or by what Jesus has done for me?
Remember, God's work in your life may not look like what you expected, but He is still doing "great and unbelievable things" that you wouldn't believe even if He told you. Your waiting is not wasted when it's centered on Him.
Introduction
We all hate waiting. Americans spend 37 billion hours each year waiting in line, and as Alex Stone's research on "why waiting is torture" shows, we'll do almost anything to avoid the feeling of stagnation. But what about waiting on God? How do we handle those seasons when we're stuck between God's promise and its fulfillment?
What Does It Mean to Wait on the Lord?
In the book of Habakkuk, we find a powerful model for waiting on God during uncertain times. The prophet Habakkuk shows us a three-part process that can transform our waiting from torture to trust:
- Remind ourselves of who God is
- Seek His divine perspective
- Fix our eyes on Jesus and keep living by faith
Reminding Ourselves Who God Is
In Habakkuk 1:12, we see the prophet begin by anchoring himself in God's character: "Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die." Before bringing his complaints, Habakkuk first reminds himself of God's eternal nature and holiness.
This is crucial because Habakkuk is about to hold two seemingly contradictory truths in tension:
- God is faithful and sovereign
- The way God is working doesn't make sense to him
Both can be true simultaneously. We can trust God's character while still having honest questions about His methods.
How Do I Seek God's Perspective When I'm Waiting?
In chapter 2:1, Habakkuk says, "I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts. I will look to see what he will say to me." This military imagery of climbing to a high vantage point illustrates how we should actively seek God's perspective during waiting seasons.
This reminds us of Elijah in 1 Kings 18, who kept sending his servant to look for rain clouds after years of drought. Seven times he sent him, until finally a tiny cloud appeared. The lesson? Keep looking. Keep seeking. Don't give up after the first few attempts to gain God's perspective.
As Paul writes in Colossians 3:1-2: "Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Why Is Faith Essential During Waiting Seasons?
Habakkuk 2:4 contains one of the most pivotal verses in Scripture: "The righteous person will live by his faithfulness." This verse, quoted three times in the New Testament, reveals the central theme of not just Habakkuk but the entire Bible.
This verse presents two contrasting lifestyles:
- A life built on faith in yourself - described as "puffed up" and lacking substance
- A life built on faith in Jesus - full and abundant
Those who trust in themselves are like an inflated chip bag - they appear full but collapse at the slightest pressure. They're forced to maintain a persona of never failing because their identity depends on how others perceive them.
In contrast, those who live by faith in Jesus find their identity in what He has done, not in what they can do.
How Do I Keep My Faith Strong While Waiting?
Remember Peter walking on water - he began to sink only when he took his eyes off Jesus. The same is true for us in waiting seasons. We must keep our focus on Christ rather than on our circumstances.
One practical exercise is what we might call the "God is Faithful" exercise:
- Sit down with a clean sheet of paper
- Begin writing all the ways God has been faithful to you
- If you struggle to start, begin with "God is faithful to give me Jesus"
As you continue this practice, your heart will begin to remember God's faithfulness throughout your life.
How Can I Position Myself to Hear from God?
Habakkuk climbed the ramparts not just to look but to listen. Similarly, we need to position ourselves to hear from God during waiting seasons:
- Immerse yourself in God's Word
- Surround yourself with other believers
- Reduce the noise and distractions in your life
Life Application
If you're in a season of waiting right now, apply Habakkuk's model to your situation:
Remember who God is: Take time this week to write down God's attributes and ways He's been faithful to you personally. Start with the greatest demonstration of His faithfulness - sending Jesus.
Seek His perspective: Position yourself to hear from God by spending extra time in His Word and with His people. What might God be trying to show you from His vantage point that you can't see from yours?
Hold onto faith in Jesus: What area of your life are you tempted to take your eyes off Jesus? How might your waiting look different if you focused on Him rather than your circumstances?
Ask yourself: Am I waiting passively, or am I actively seeking God like Habakkuk on the ramparts? Am I defining my life by what I can do, or by what Jesus has done for me?
Remember, God's work in your life may not look like what you expected, but He is still doing "great and unbelievable things" that you wouldn't believe even if He told you. Your waiting is not wasted when it's centered on Him.
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