Theme for the month: Still I will

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

Think for a moment about a time in your life where you have experienced a great challenge (or perhaps a series of them). How did it affect your relationship with God? If you have to give yourself a mark on a 10 point scale, where 0 symbolizes a place of total God-forsakenness and 10 an intimate relationship with God, where were you in that difficult time of your life?

Think now for a moment about a time in your life where you were at your happiest - and you experienced abundance. Again give yourself a mark out of 10 that represents your relationship with God in that time.

Also put yourself on that scale today. What mark do you give yourself?

Do these marks differ from season to season in your life? Was it perhaps 9 or 10 in the difficult time because you needed a breakthrough and sought God day and night for it? And was it perhaps 3 or 4 in the good time because you were so busy with other things that you did not make time to seek God’s presence?

In South Africa we are currently experiencing a few challenges. Some farmers experience the worst drought in years on their farm. Others experience the impact of the weak rand in the business world and yet others struggle to think about the future without fear, due to certain political statements.

In the book Habakkuk the prophet begs God to not forget about the Israelites. They have strayed from God and began experiencing challenges. Throughout the book Habakuk describes God’s greatness and emphasis God’s power and ability to establish a breakthrough. Then in Habakkuk 3: 17-19 we read his famous prayer: “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, 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 tread on the heights”

In another Bible translation we read Habakkuk's words as: "My faith in God is not dependent on whether it is well with me or not."

Can you really say, like Habakkuk, that even if you are experiencing challenges in the form of illness, financial distress, divorce, unemployment, sadness, a relationship that threaten to break up or drought on the farm, you still will choose to rejoice in God and worship Him as Savior? And is that what you are doing? Remember, God never sleeps nor slumbers, and nothing is impossible for Him. When we draw close to Him, He does the same. God bless.

Father God, thank You for Your love for me. Help me in good and bad times to keep my eyes on You, knowing that you never change. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

• From the author: I am looking forward to the messages God has for us in February. Please use the e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to testify where God has recently established your breakthrough or join in discussing the topic. Feedback is always great because your testimony might inspire someone else to stand firm during a storm they might currently experience. Regards, Benescke