2026 07 19, When God's Answer Is Harder Than The Problem

Main message: God is already at work even when his actions differ from our expectations; when God’s answer surprises or disappoints us (as with Habakkuk), faith begins by trusting God’s wiser, sovereign purposes rather than demanding our preferred outcome.

Key points:

• God’s reply to Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:5–11) was surprising: he would raise up the ruthless Babylonians rather than the immediate rescue Habakkuk wanted.
• God works even when we don’t see it (pervenient grace)—often behind the scenes to bring about his purposes (illustrated by the Borneo/Jesus film story).
• We are not God: his ways and timing are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9); we must learn to trust his wisdom rather than insist on our plan.
• God can use evil and human sin for his redemptive purposes (Romans 8:28), as seen in examples like Pharaoh, the Roman roads, and ultimately the cross.
• Faith is not having all the answers but trusting the faithful God who gives what we need when we need it; Habakkuk continues to wrestle with God, and believers may need to trust God’s heart when his answer is hard.

Scriptures mentioned: Habakkuk 1:5–11, Isaiah 55:8–9, Romans 8:28, Galatians 4:4