Rainbow of Hope

There is a throw blanket I've had for 14-15 years now; the picture and motto jumped out at me this morning:  Everyone needs a rainbow.  Sitting down with my Bible after making the bed, God continued to speak on the topic from the book of Habbakuk :).  My overall message?  The 'rainbow' that remains is quiet confidence in God.

The first verse that truly grabbed me said the 'lifted up heart is not right...the just shall live by faith.'  Oooh.  I'm easily riled by what seems unjust.  I knew this is a thread of a message God wanted me to hear.  (My other bible study at the moment is the book of Romans which is build on the concept 'the just shall live by faith.')  The passage went on to say that there is woe for coveting deliverance from evil.  That struck me as odd...who doesn't want to be delivered from evil.  And then it all came together:  coveting--desiring deeply--throws us off the path of faith.  Coveting 'good' is still coveting.  The desire God has for this world is given just a few verses later:

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Our hearts find rest only when His glory is what we seek.  That pursuit is described in I Thessalonians as the work of faith, the labor of love and patience of hope.  How incredibly descriptive is that phrase:  patience of hope!  Faith in God allows us to hope with patience--with a willingness to 'suffer long' in confidence of God's ultimate goodness.  That is the rainbow of hope we all need! 

I'll leave with you some of my favorite 'dark time' verses from the last chapter of Habbakuk:

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: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.