The prophet Habakkuk understood that there is a joy that transcends all circumstances. Here was a man in a society heavily dependent upon livestock producing, fruit trees bearing, and crops yielding, yet in the midst of his nation’s darkest hour, when they were threatened by the invading armies of Babylon, he cried out:
- Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice [alaz] in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)
- I will rejoice because of the Lord; I will be happy because of the God who delivers me! (NET)
The ESV translation of gil, “take joy,” like the NET’s “I will be happy,” captures Habakkuk’s mindset in the midst of horrific obstacles. He was actively grasping happiness in the Lord—determined, by God’s grace and strength, not to allow his tragic circumstances to defeat him.
Sometimes we read Scripture about rejoicing or trusting and think, Easy to say, but you’re not facing what I am. But few people have faced conditions as dire as Habakkuk, with the impending destruction of his nation, family, friends, and entire way of life. His statement “I will be happy because of the God who delivers me” demonstrates that delighting in God isn’t dependent on favorable circumstances. This is one of the more dramatic proofs in Scripture that joy and happiness aren’t just passive reactions but involve determined choices.
Of course, we should never flippantly say, “Happiness is a choice.” It’s not always easy to choose what brings ultimate lasting happiness over what brings instant temporary happiness. However, it’s God who empowers us through His Spirit to believe in Him and obey Him. He calls upon us to genuinely cooperate with Him, which requires effort and discipline on our part, yet we do so by drawing on His strength and grace.
Happiness in God involves an act of will toward the God who’s there and who loves us, even in sickness, hunger, war, and prison cells. It’s built on His all-encompassing sovereignty, love, goodness, grace, gladness, and redemptive purposes in our lives. By choosing happiness in Christ, we’re gratefully receiving God’s grace and His own happiness.
