I’ve held onto this devotional for close to a year. It was the one God gave me to share the words I wish I had when I was going through the hardest season of my life. I recently spoke on this topic, having organized the first women’s breakfast at my church campus, and gave powerful discussion questions to follow. By request, I am sharing this word that God gave me.
“I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint” - Habakkuk 2:1 (ESV)
We can all relate to waiting for something and longing for circumstances to be different.
I don’t know your story, but God does. Maybe:
- it’s health complications that doctors haven’t been able to resolve.
- you long for godly community, but you haven’t connected with the right group yet.
- you’re looking for a new job.
- you’re waiting for justice; for conflict to be resolved.
- complacency and comfortability are getting the best of you, and you’re longing for new things
- that person hasn’t come to Jesus yet.
- you’re waiting for Jesus to come back in light of all that’s going on in the world.
I can relate to so many of those points…health complications, friendships, relationships, and healing. We strive to overcome our challenges, with or without God, only to wind up exhausted. And when we don’t get the outcome we desire, we grow weary.
From the start of the book of Habakkuk, God’s people were enduring hardship with no end in sight. God’s people, the nation of Judah, were facing destruction, evil, and exile. Babylon, a wicked people, was relentless.
Habakkuk, a prophet, assumes God doesn’t see or know what’s going on. He was directly communicating with God…and he questioned God.
The Lord never gives a timeline or an explanation. Instead, He reminds Habakkuk of His sovereignty. The Lord responds:
"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” - Habakkuk 1:5 (ESV)
He sees and knows what Habakkuk doesn’t, including how this situation will end. In the same way, we don’t need answers to know that God is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). Rather than allowing what we see dictate how we feel, we can remain confident in knowing that God’s ways are perfect. We may not see it yet. Faith doesn’t require a timeline; it simply requires surrender.
We have to trust that when we don’t know why, God knows what’s best for us. He is giving us what’s necessary in order to move forward, and that’s more of himself.
Sometimes we won’t have answers and we won’t know when things will get better. It’s not about the questions or doubts, but what we do with them. Times of uncertainty or waiting must be what build our faith, trusting God that he will keep His promises to us.
If you know the end of the story, Habakkuk rejoices in the Lord without having answers and without any circumstances changing. So, how does he move forward with expectant faith? Our answer is found in chapter 2, verse 1.
“I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint” - Habakkuk 2:1 (ESV)
Culturally, city walls had watch posts and towers to protect themselves physically. In the same way, we need to stand strong spiritually. Habakkuk’s posture is one of endurance. There are 3 approaches we can follow to intentionally and actively stand strong in faith, both physically and mentally.
We have a choice: We can praise God, fully convinced that he is working on our behalf, or we can let doubt and skepticism take hold. As women and as daughters of Christ, in the same body, we can’t let each other fall into the enemy’s traps.
- “I will take my stand at my watchpost”
A watch post is what people used to filter what comes in and out of the city. Likewise we must guard what we allow into our minds.
We position ourselves to remain rooted in God’s promises, no matter what comes our way. We remind ourselves of His character, renewing our minds with Scripture and abiding in God’s presence.
We fix our eyes on God alone, even when it is hard to see him working; even when we don’t hear or see an answer yet.
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” - Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV)
*Stand Firm: Remain rooted in God’s Word
2. “I will station myself on the tower”
A tower, in those times, was used to get an overall view of the city.
Once we have our firm foundation, we know what to look for. Not only focusing on our spiritual foundation, we look out to see what God is doing.
We station ourselves high up to get a broader view of how God is working. We stop obsessing over details, trying to control what only God can do. We keep our eyes open to the greater picture, aware that God doesn’t just speak in one way or act as we anticipate. We ask God for clarity, direction, and discernment. We look for evidence of His work in our lives.
God doesn’t always work in the way we expect, but we must expect him to do something because that’s the kind of God He is. He is always working and always doing what is best for us.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
*Stand Tall: Keep your eyes open to what God is doing
3. “look out to see what he will say to me”
We must look out to see what God will say to us. We’ve grounded ourselves in His word. We’re looking and expecting for Him to work. Now, we must seek Him in prayer for guidance and direction. We must fully trust – not half-heartedly, partially trust…fully trust that God will keep His promises and He will come through with what’s best for us, in His impeccable timing.
When we ask God to answer us, we must only look to Him for a response. We can’t trust in ourselves, things, or other people to provide something that only He can. After all, our responsibility is to trust God and advance his kingdom. His job is to be in control.
Maybe, if you haven’t experienced your breakthrough yet, God is trying to get your attention away from the world and even more so onto Him.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
*Stand attentively: Trust that God will answer your prayer.
Habakkuk took up this perspective. The Word grounded him. It became the lens in which he viewed the world. He expanded his view of God. And he became prepared for God to work in his life.
Soon after, he no longer makes assumptions or questions God. In chapter 3 verses 17-18 (ESV), he says this:
“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”
He goes from a place of hurting to rejoicing because He encounters God and trusts that God will provide. Even if there is no harvest. Even if there is no visible, tangible income or food. Even if…He trusts God even if things don’t look good at this moment.
Waiting may make us doubt. But we have so much hope because of Jesus. Author Marissa Henley puts it best:
“God’s people in Habakkuk’s day had the words of this prophecy and God’s covenant promises. We have something even better: an empty tomb and the promise that Christ Himself will return to make all things new. When we know the truth of God’s character, we have confidence that God can and will keep all His promises1.”
Let that sink in for a minute.
Jesus is our evidence of hope in the waiting, no matter how much things hurt. He died and rose from the grave to conquer death, to have a personal relationship with each of us, to give us eternal life. He knows what waiting feels like. He knows the dread of uncertainty and the pain in suffering.
And He wants to walk with you through it.
He wants you to stand firm, to remain rooted in Scripture.
He wants you to stand tall, to broaden your perspective.
He wants you to stand attentively, to trust and expect big things from Him.
We’re not in this alone. We have Jesus…and, as women, we also have each other. We must help each other stand strong in faith, even when it’s hard, inconvenient, or doesn’t make sense.
When we take up this posture, we don’t need to see the ending. We don’t need stability from things that are fleeting. We only need the consistent presence of God to sustain us. And nothing else matters the same.
Question: How could your life be different if you embraced this perspective?
Discussion Questions:
1. Where in your life are you longing for breakthrough?
2. Which of the key points do you need to apply in your life today?
3. Talk about when God was faithful to fulfill your needs in the past. How does this encourage you today?
4. Pray that God would equip you in the waiting and give you vision to see his work. Pray for the breakthrough you are expecting.
References:
- Henley, M. (2021). In Not According to Plan: How to Trust God When He Seems Unfair or Silent (First 5 Bible Studies, p. 52). Proverbs 31 Ministries.
Consider the Joy 
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