Life falls apart when you least expect it. The timing is never good, and the mess it makes leaves you exhausted and discouraged.

Habakkuk is one of those Old Testament prophets that you don’t want to ignore. To him, a life that was falling apart looked like loss of income and loss of savings, but not loss of joy.

Why is this important? Because situations like this are woven throughout your legacy of faith.

People are watching you. Waiting to see if what you’ve told them about your faith will really hold up when things get tough.

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

thought 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

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV).

This guy decided to find joy outside of his circumstances. He chose to find joy in the God who created Him, in the One he called Savior.

Perhaps he was reminding the Lord that because His name was Savior, He needed to do a little saving of Habakkuk’s life situation. I don’t know, but I do believe Habakkuk gives us a path to follow in the midst of our tragedies.

How do you find joy in God when your life falls apart?

1. Decide that you won’t look to people or circumstances to provide your joy.

2. Spend time with the One who is full of joy (see Psalm 16:11).

3. Learn all you can as you go through your messy circumstances. Use it as a time for growth.

4. Remember that your circumstances are temporary. This world is not your home, you are just passing through.

5. Put your mess and the people associated with it in the Lord’s hands. And leave them there. (Having trouble doing that? See How to Leave a Problem in God’s Hands and Not Steal It Back.)

6. Now… look around you at all the good things God is doing in spite of your mess. Keep a gratitude journal and review it often.

None of us knows what the future holds this side of heaven, but we do know the One who holds the future. And we can plan for the attitude we want to embrace when life falls apart.

Have a joyful week,

Susan