Habakkuk and a Real Life Lesson in Trusting God

I have been teaching an adult Sunday school class at church about the minor prophets for about  the past 9 months.  Most recently we have been looking at the book of Habakkuk.  Here is the "Reader's Digest" version of the book:  The prophet named Habakkuk pleads with God about the problems of his nation.  God answers telling him that the perpetrators will be judged by the Babylonians.  The prophet responds by questioning God's use of an unrighteous nation to judge a more righteous nation.  God responds by assuring that Babylon will be punished and the faithful will be rewarded.  Habakkuk then spends the last chapter or the book praising and remembering His past promises.

Since studying the minor prophets I have learned quite a bit about God's faithfulness and how these books fit into the tapestry of the Bible.  However, this book in particular has come at a pivotal point in my life, a point at which I have also had many questions as Habakkuk has.

My wife gave birth to our son a few weeks ago.  This past Monday we received a phone call saying that they completed all the normal tests and found that he has Cystic Fibrosis.  Cf is a genetic disease that often takes life at early to mid adulthood, although people are living longer these days.  My mother has the disease and she will be 60 in a few months.

Needless to say I have had a few questions for God, much like Habakkuk.  Similarly to the prophet, God has reminded me of His past faithfulness, His faithfulness in the life of my mother, and His constant watchcare over my family and me.  We have had numerous people we don't even know writing to us to express their concern and prayers.

It is amazing how God seemed to foreshadow this event to me before it even took place.  Now, in retrospect, I realize He was preparing me for it.  My dad and I had a conversation two months ago and he said, "you never know, he might have cf."  The first week of his little life he seemed to have terrible problems with gas.  My mother said, "oh, that could be a sign of cf."  Earlier in the same day the doctor called us, I received a text from my brother-in-law about a promising treatment for cf.  He intended it as an encouragement concerning my mother.  He had no idea that about an hour later my wife would tell me that our son also had cf.

My mother's life has been amazing testimony to God's faithfulness in the midst of pain and trial.  I never expected that my child would go through a similar journey.  I have always admired my mother's attitude toward this adversity.  She has been used mightily by the Lord.  I hope that I can help encourage my son to do the same.  Together we can praise God in the midst of adversity as Habakkuk did.


¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not bud
   and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
   and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
   and no cattle in the stalls,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
   I will be joyful in God my Savior.  ¹⁹ The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
   he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
   he enables me to tread on the heights.