What is disappointing you? If nothing comes to mind yet, don’t worry, this month is still ripening with opportunities. When families and friends come together, expectations for the perfect Christmas gathering are set high which elevates the emotional letdown when things don’t go according to plan. If we aren’t gathering with friends and family, the pain of feeling “left out” or “without,” barren and empty, can keep us down in a valley of disappointment.

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)” Habakkuk‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the midst of disappointment, Habbakuk acknowledges things are not budding, blooming, or producing, but he refuses to sulk in his sorrows or dwell on what isn’t happening. He instead directs his thoughts to what is there… the Lord! I love that he can acknowledge the loss without getting lost in it. We all have real pain and sorrows and it’s important to hold both simultaneously; to be able to acknowledge hurt and also the One who heals.

Habakkuk shifts his focus to thanksgiving despite seeing no turnaround or signs of hope. He doesn’t wait for improvement in the situation to change his mind and his words.

“Even though” there is no sign of hope, a future, any life in this situation, it is empty, dead, barren, Habakkuk says, “I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in the God of my Salvation.”

And this is the entire reason for the Christmas season! Not plans, parties, or even people. It’s all about, “The God Who Saves,” that is Jesus!

Despite how much we disappoint our Heavenly Father in all our sin and wrongdoing, the Sovereign Lord made a way for us be in relationship with Him, to talk to Him, to hear from Him, to be comforted by Him. The Way is Jesus.

I’m not just talking about a way to heaven. I’m talking about The Way to Life, here with us – Emmanuel. Right now. In the middle of all that seems wrong and disappointing, He is here with us, calling us to redirect our focus from the things of earth to the things much higher than all of this.

And that is our strength in the Christmas season! Jesus, here with us, right now. This gives us confidence to let go of the letdowns and rejoice in the truth that even though things are not what I want them to be, thank God, He is for me! And that’s all I need.

At the end of these verses it says that there should be an accompaniment of strings put to these words. In other words, this prayer becomes a praise song.

This year, I hope we can turn our prayers for the things on earth into a praise to the One above. He wants so much more for us than just a silent night. He wants peace in our hearts, He wants joy to rule our thoughts. Because Jesus came. And He is here with us.