An Introduction to Embracing Joy

I wondered about the title of this eight-week study written by a prophet who had a conversation with God. Turns out, Habakkuk means embrace.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, embrace means “hug, encircle, welcome, grip, acceptance.” Habakkuk’s book is only three chapters but they pack a powerful picture of spiritual transformation.

You see Habakkuk lived in hard, evil times. There were things going on in his world that he didn’t understand, and it left him questioning what in the world God was doing.

Let me put it in today’s terms.

Is God even around? Why would God allow these circumstances? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why doesn’t God step in and do something about all this crazy in our world?

Turns out the prophet asked the same questions we do when circumstances are tough, and it seems our culture is shifting away from faith. When life on Easy Street isn’t easy, and things aren’t quite like we imagined.

In the questioning Habakkuk received an answer, and it wasn’t exactly what he hoped to hear. But as he asked God the questions, something inside him began to shift. He moved from complaining to confidence, and doubt to trust. His focus shifted from man to God, and in the end, even though the circumstances didn’t change, Habakkuk embraced joy.

Though this is a little hard to say. Perhaps harder for us to hear.

Easy Street is not the point.

Transformation,
growing closer to God,
embracing joy in the midst of our circumstances…
is the point of it all.

Our friend and teacher encouraged us this week, “some of the transformation God is calling you to in this study will be hard.” And she’s right. Truth is… life is hard, and so is transformation. The big question is which hard will we choose.

It’s not too late to join us on Wednesdays at noon. Stop by the shop and get a book. Do as much of the week one’s study as you can and gather with us.

You won’t regret it.
Stacy