“How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! ‘Violence is everywhere!’ I cry, but you do not come to save.” – Habakkuk 1:2 (NLT)
Have you ever looked at the world and thought, This is a mess? Maybe it was a personal tragedy, a national crisis, or just the overwhelming darkness of sin around us. If so, you’re not alone. Habakkuk, a prophet of God, felt the same way. He saw his nation, Judah, falling apart under corrupt leaders, and it seemed like God was doing nothing about it. His question was simple: Why does God allow injustice to thrive?
We still ask this today. Why does evil seem to win? Why do the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper? Habakkuk’s complaint to God wasn’t just a theological question— it was deeply personal. He had seen a godly king, Josiah, bring revival to Judah. But after Josiah’s death, the nation slipped back into sin. Leaders became corrupt, justice was paralyzed, and God’s law was ignored. It felt like everything was falling apart.
God’s answer shocked Habakkuk: I am raising up the Chaldeans (Babylonians) to bring judgment on Judah (Hab. 1:5-11). Habakkuk was stunned. The Babylonians were ruthless and even more wicked than Judah’s corrupt leaders. How could God use an evil nation to punish His own people? It didn’t make sense. It felt like God was making things worse, not better.
But here’s the key lesson: God’s ways are beyond our understanding, but He is always in control. Just like a child can’t always grasp a parent’s decisions, we struggle to understand God’s ways. Imagine telling a four-year-old to brush their teeth. They resist, not understanding bacteria, cavities, or long-term health. What do we say? Just trust me. God’s response to Habakkuk was similar: Trust me. I am working in ways you don’t see.
History proves this. God allowed Babylon to rise for a time, but they were eventually judged for their evil. More importantly, through Judah’s exile, God set the stage for His ultimate plan—salvation through Jesus Christ. Greek culture spread, Roman roads were built, and synagogues were established across the known world. By the time Jesus came, everything was in place for the gospel to spread. What seemed like chaos was actually part of God’s divine plan.
Take heart if you are struggling with unanswered prayers or suffering that doesn’t make sense. Like Habakkuk, you can bring your honest questions to God. He can handle them. But also, like Habakkuk, you must choose faith over fear. Habakkuk didn’t walk away from God. He waited. He trusted. And in the end, he declared, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” (Hab. 3:18). God is at work—even when life falls apart. Trust Him.