Running on Empty

God has unlimited ways to draw us closer to Himself.

Running on empty is an oxymoron. I mean, when you run out of gas, your car stops. It’s not a mystical thing, but a law of physics. Yet, what the Spirit had Habakkuk write defies physics!

“Though the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls…” (Hab. 3:17).

In each case, there was nothing to eat or to use that could meet their basics needs both now and in the future. All their physical efforts to meet their obligations had not only failed today, but left them with nothing to work with for tomorrow as well.

This person had nothing left in the tank. They simply couldn’t make another decision, let alone gather the energy to move forward on any plan. Guess what? The Lord had them right where He wanted them.

Habakkuk continues, “…yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to go on the heights” (Hab. 3:18-19).

Faith in Jesus is the mystical part of life. Despite what I see, what I feel, or what I think, He can supply the fuel to keep going, which goes beyond physics. How? I don’t know! That’s why it’s called faith.

Yet, we are told to rejoice in the Father, our Savior. Why? He is the One who can defy the laws of nature like He did with Elijah (birds brought him meat) or the law of physics like He did with the widow (jars of flour and oil were miraculously refilled each day).

We, however, get used to meeting our own needs (working harder) or filling our own tank (drugs of choice) that we don’t need Him. Really? He is God, not us. He alone can defy logic or go against feeling when the situation looks or feels hopeless.

There are so many examples in Scripture where the Lord used these types of hopeless or empty tank situations to draw His people closer to Himself.

Faith is not the issue either! Faith in whom is. This time of introspection (see last week’s blog entry) has again shown me that, in reality, I have more faith in myself, than in Him. And right now, honestly, He’s got me running on empty so I can learn to love Him more.

By focusing on what He has done in the past and can do in the future, should put a smile on my face because of the joy He can bring to my current situation.

If you are like me, let’s learn to rejoice in and focus on Him. He can give us the fuel to not only not stumble today; but to see life from His perspective – the joy of what He alone can do tomorrow, as well.

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