Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls--
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.
Habakkuk 3:17-19

Habakkuk tells us of the desperate situation he faced, and how he chose to rejoice in the God of his salvation.

When Israel was journeying from Egypt to Canaan they faced difficult situations where there was no water and no food. They had to make a choice. They could choose to grumble and complain or they could choose to rejoice in the promises of God’s presence and provision. They failed to choose joy.

When everything is a disaster around me and I see no way of providing for my needs, I cry out to the Lord and realize I am not walking ALONE! I find that I can choose to rejoice - a choice I have to make that God gives me grace to do. The Lord God is my strength, enabling me to rejoice. He works in me both to will and to do all that pleases Him. He is present even when I do not see Him nor feel Him. So I can choose to have joy in every circumstance. The same God, who sets before me great trials, like mountains that seem impossible to conquer, is also my strength for the task. He even gives me feet like the mountain goat, enabling me to climb the narrow rocky paths up the cliffs and walk on my high hills. The mountain was God’s gift to me. It was mine before and after the climb. I walk on the top of the cliff as conqueror in God’s strength and provision. God gave me that impossible problem mountain and enabled me to conquer it, filling me with His joy through every moment of the trial. What is your mountain today? As you face it you must make a choice. You can look at your problem and choose to complain or you can look to the God of your salvation and rejoice that He is with you and will give you the strength and the means to conquer those cliffs and look down with joy from the lofty heights that are yours. Remember, joy is a choice. Today choose to rejoice.

Listen to "The Joyful Christian"