This, Too, Shall Pass
Unemployment Series
“Although the land has dried up and all appears to be hopeless, Habakkuk can still rejoice in light of the vision he has received, knowing that God is his deliverer and his savior…”
“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.”
Explanation:
In these verses, the prophet Habakkuk describes the desolate landscape of a war-ravaged nation. For ancients, destruction of food sources often occurred due to acts of hostilities from invading armies. Though the description here is the result of war, the greater point stands for many different situations where God’s provisions have seemingly dried up, and life becomes difficult to sustain.¹ Although the land has dried up and all appears to be hopeless, Habakkuk can still rejoice in light of the vision he has received, knowing that God is his deliverer and his savior.
Connection:
Habakkuk's images are the result of an invasion by the armies of Babylon. Fittingly, in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many commentators have described this situation in war-like terms. The invader this time is invisible in the form of a disease, and we are fighting a very fierce battle on many different fronts. Casualties are high - both in terms of lives lost to the illness and the secondary destruction of the economy. It left millions without work, and made for a very bleak and uncertain future. What's more, there is something about work that provides us dignity and purpose. We were not created to be idle creatures, after all. God works in and through us as we live out our lives through our various vocations.
The imagery Habakkuk provides is a familiar refrain for the unemployed. The fruit is dying on the vine. Livestock have either been cut off or have stopped producing. Fields have withheld their grain and the wells have run dry. There is no work in the midst of a pandemic for someone who has lost their job, and hope does not seem attainable. And yet, Habakkuk does not despair - but rejoices. Because ultimately, he understands that his security does not lie in his job - but upon God his savior. This is the same God who sent his son into our flesh to suffer and die. If he cared enough to send his son to die for you, he will surely give you the grace needed to get through these tough periods of life.
Action:
1. Understand Your Identity:
It is so easy in this day and age to wrap your entire identity up in your career. Yet, this proves to be futile when you find that you no longer have a job. An inability to have an identity apart from work can lead to depression and despair. Instead, remember who you are in Christ Jesus. It is here that you will find the solid rock upon which to build your life (Galatians 2:20).
2. Cry Out to God:
In these times you will likely feel the need to vent your emotions. A great way to do this is to express yourself to God through prayer. Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to "come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Therefore, do not be afraid of God in these times, but run to him. He has promised to provide and to bring comfort to our soul.
3. Be Diligent:
Although times like this can be discouraging, it is important to be diligent in searching for work and other opportunities. Though it can be tempting to adopt a victim's attitude, the scriptures always encourage us to be proactive and to make the most of our opportunities (Proverbs 13:4).
¹John Goldingay and Pamela Scalise, Minor Prophets Ii (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012), 138.