We can hope

James Cathcart October 30, 2022 0 0

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Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 (NRSVA)

(1) 1 The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
    and you will not listen?
Or cry to you ‘Violence!’
    and you will not save?
3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing
    and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    strife and contention arise.
4 So the law becomes slack
    and justice never prevails.
The wicked surround the righteous—
    therefore judgement comes forth perverted.

(2) 1 I will stand at my watch-post,
    and station myself on the rampart;
I will keep watch to see what he will say to me,
    and what he will answer concerning my complaint.
2 Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write the vision;
    make it plain on tablets,
    so that a runner may read it.
3 For there is still a vision for the appointed time;
    it speaks of the end, and does not lie.
If it seems to tarry, wait for it;
    it will surely come, it will not delay.
4 Look at the proud!
    Their spirit is not right in them,
    but the righteous live by their faith.

Does God get annoyed when we complain? When we get to moaning does God get angry or disheartened? Does God just wish we’d hurry up and haud our wheest?

No. I don’t think so.

Because God gets it.

God gets humans.

When we stand with Habakkuk, on the ramparts, pleading out, crying out. God listens, God pays attention. And this gives us hope.

Because while we may not understand all — or even most — of the mysteries of the universe, we can understand love. We are loved into being and we are intended to love one another. Life is complicated, it won’t always make sense, but in our bones we know love. And through community we grow to appreciate the fact that at the heart of reality is a God who loves us — that is a rock we can cling to. That thing you feel in your bones — that’s at the heart of the universe. From long before Habakkuk and ever on to this moment we have been nurturing such a legacy of hope.

We are part of a chain of saints who have a way of looking at the world that says “There is a reason to hope. You’re not a fool for trying. Or if you are, you’re the right kind of fool!” Trying, failing, moaning, complaining, crying out — that can all be part of hope! Can we annoy, anger and dishearten God? I’m sure: in our cruelty, or carelessness or heartlessness we must sadden God. But in our heartfelt complaints? Our cries to know why or when? No. I don’t believe that makes God angry.

In fact it might make God hope.

Because God gets it.

PRAYER:

Lord God

We ask for a hope that is not dependent on circumstances

to equip us and guide us for all we face today.

Help us spread your word of hope

to a world that needs it.

Amen.