The Godly Response To Trouble

By Scott K. Miller

March 9, 2026

Habakkuk 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

And they lived happily ever after—a familiar ending to a fairy tale, but never true in real-life experience. While it would be wonderful if we could breeze through life with few difficulties; Job reminds us that . . .”man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (5:7).

Are you traversing a trial now? Does the terrain seem rough; the course difficult? My friend, God is not using this to destroy your faith, but to refine it. His hand has lovingly designed the course and the terrain uniquely just for you.  This trial is Father-filtered. The Holy Spirit is using it to form Christ’s character in you.

Are you responding well, or issuing complaints? I wonder how long this is going to last? Why is this happening, now? Why is God doing this to me?  Our fleshly, natural response is to complain, to question, or to seek for immediate relief.

The humble, godly response is to submit and rejoice.

In Habakkuk’s day, God used the ungodly Chaldeans to ravish the land leaving very little behind them as they judged God’s people. “Unbelievable!” thought Habakkuk.

However, by the end of the book bearing his name, his response changes. By faith, Habakkuk sings: “Although the fig tree shall not blossom…and the fields yield no meat… and there be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (3:17-18)

Simply, Habakkuk states, “LORD, You know what You are doing, and I’m going to view this situation through the lens of Your love and purposes.”

James instructs us to do the same: “…count it all joy when ye fall into divers’ temptations…let (a posture of surrender) patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (1:2-4)

Reflection—Trials prepare believers for God’s joyful, eternal ever-after.