Reflections: Flipping the enemy’s script

This week brought renewed meaning to another passage from my study of the Minor Prophets with the First5 app. Habakkuk 3:17-19 was written in the context of God’s judgment for Israel’s unfaithfulness, encroaching enemy nations, and future glory that hasn’t yet arrived, yet the prophet ends with this declaration that has inspired many worship songs and devotional books:  

Though the fig tree should not blossom,nor fruit be on the vines,the produce of the olive failand the fields yield no food,the flock be cut off from the foldand there be no herd in the stalls,Yet I will rejoice in the LORD;I will take joy in the God of my salvation.GOD, the Lord, is my strength;he makes my feet like the deer’s;he makes me tread on my high places. 

Habakkuk’s trust in the Lord allowed him to flip the script of Israel’s difficulties, not escaping reality but patiently looking forward to future glory, persevering in faith and joy and writing words that still inspire us. 

That passage took on new meaning this week as I tuned in to a special update from Iran Alive Ministries, a Christian ministry that shares the gospel via satellite in Iran and provides encouragement and support for Christians there as they share their faith at great personal risk. During the update, we learned about a courageous Christian who, after losing his job and being arrested when he accepted Christ, has been in jail for the last several of his 40-something years. 

More recently, “David” has been joined in confinement by many Iranians in their teens and twenties who were arrested for daring to participate in protests against the regime. Each day, guards enter the prison with a list, calling out names selected at random to be taken for torture or execution. Imagine living like that! But not only has “David” tolerated the situation, he considers it an opportunity for ministry! He has become a father figure to the newer and younger prisoners, sharing not only his meager allowance sent by his family for provisions, but also sharing his Christian faith with those who are disillusioned with their country’s current state but have not been privileged to hear the Gospel. Many have responded, and the Iranian church is growing, right there in the prison! Those facing execution now look forward to meeting their Savior! Talk about flipping the enemy’s script! 

Also this week, Dr. Jim Denison shared in his Daily Article about a friend who is dealing with cancer, yet when he visits, the friend wants to know how he can be praying for Denison Ministries. I had my own similar opportunity years ago during my own cancer experience. Waiting at the clinic one day to hear my lab results, I was able to encourage a newly-diagnosed patient with the blessings I had experienced: Restored relationships, friends bringing meals and most of all, renewed appreciation for God’s Word and his comforting presence. My new friend was inspired to rediscover personal Bible reading. 

Dr. Denison also referred to the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16, where singing praises at midnight not only literally brought freedom but also piqued the curiosity of the Philippian jailer.  

“When we trust God in hard places, others see the reality and relevance of our faith as they can in no other circumstances,” says Dr. Denison. 

It’s not that difficult to praise God when things are going great, but if our friends and acquaintances see us continuing to trust Him and be joyful even when our world turns upside down, they realize our faith is the real deal. When the enemy tries to derail us, let’s join the early apostles, the prophet Habakkuk, our courageous Iranian friend and a host of others in flipping the enemy’s script!