Though the fig tree should not blossom...

Image Courtesy of Uwe Conrad on Unsplash

I spent this weekend very confused and uncertain of how I should feel. I watch the world around me growing increasingly hysteric over the events of COVID-19 as fear and uncertainty continue to grow. In a time where people need hope and encouragement the most, churches are closing their doors, and overseas missions are being stopped as borders close.

Now, before we go too far, I want to preface that I understand the reasoning and importance of social distancing in times like these. Improving personal hygiene and doing what we can to prevent further spread of COVID-19 is an incredible way to love our neighbours and look after those most vulnerable to the virus.

On the other hand, it feels as though we are hiding out in the catacombs, fleeing for self-preservation, or wanting to help but our hands are tied. Personally, I continually feel like I'm being robbed.

So I’ve been asking myself; what are we supposed to be doing as a church? How do you minister to those most in need in this situation? How can we encourage reasonable caution while also diminishing unreasonable levels of fear? What on earth is God doing in all of this?

As I was praying about this entire situation yesterday, I was surprised to be reminded of the prophet Habakkuk, so I took the time to read through the book once again.

Habakkuk was a prophet to Judah during a time when social injustice ran rampant through the Kingdom. Like many, Habakkuk could not fathom how God could let such things happen. In fact, Habakkuk opens his book with this exact complaint;

“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,

and you will not hear?

Habakkuk 1:2a ESV

However, one of the beautiful things about the book of Habakkuk is that in this book, God responds. Over the course of this small book, Habakkuk makes his complaints, and the Lord responds by assuring Habakkuk that he is still in control, and he is still at work, even if Habakkuk might not see it.

Following this discourse, and his remembrance of who God is, Habakkuk ends his book with the following;

"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.

God, the Lord, is my strength;

he makes my feet like the deer's;

he makes me tread on my high places."

Habakkuk 3:17-19 ESV

I was in tears as I read yesterday. Habakkuk no doubt continued to see social injustice around him, and I’m certain that it continued to burden him. Yet Habakkuk also understood that the Lord was still in control, and at work even when he couldn’t see it. So even when there appeared to be no fruit or harvest, when the world continued to appear dim and gloomy, Habakkuk would continue to rejoice and find his strength in the Lord.

I know that the situation of Habakkuk was very different from the one we are in now. The social injustices of his time are hardly comparable to a virus that we have no control over, but I believe the main principle of his story to remain true.

We don’t know what the end result of this virus will be. For some this experience will be more difficult than for others. For some this may be a minor adjustment, while for others their entire world has been flipped upside down. Many of us are re-adjusting as we mourn cancelled plans, missed opportunities, and in some cases, family and friends.

But my friends, no matter what may pass, please remember this; God is still on his throne, and He is working in ways that we can not imagine.

Though the fig tree does not appear to be blossoming, the time for fruit will come. In the meantime, find your hope, strength and joy in the Lord.