A friend of mine tried very hard to fit in with the family she married into but no matter how hard she tried, she was always on the outside looking in. She had been alone most of her life and the idea of a family seemed like the most wonderful thing in the world. One day one of the Sons told her, she was not family. She was just their brother's wife. It stung her and she walked away in defeat. She didn't know God then and for many years she felt unwanted whenever she visited his family with him. Although her husband loved her, she still wanted to be loved by his family.
Then she got saved and found this verse. It dawned on her that the Lord was her strength and he loved her. She could take the high road and walk on those high places. She did not have to let this defeat her. In the midst of her deep Winter of sorrow, she couldn't see any victory ahead. But with God's help, and through his strength, she has learned how to celebrate in the midst of defeat. She has learned to trust, and she has gained a much bigger family, the family of God.
Habakkuk 3: 17-19 A prophet's prayer
[17] Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
[18] Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
[19] The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon high places.
Lord, My prayer for today...Give me the trust to celebrate in the midst of defeat and have confidence, like that of a sure-footed mountain deer. It is easy to celebrate and trust in the good times but when I feel defeated and nothing seems to be going right, that is when I need more than ever to trust. Help me to understand that even though I feel defeated, I can still walk on high places because you are my strength. Amen
