Message summary: Let us choose an overcoming, faith-filled, joyful outlook in the midst of adversity.

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"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 go on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

Yesterday we ate our Thanksgiving meal with Jesse and Anna Lapp, their three youngest children (four oldest meeting with their youth group), and our dear friend Dottie Schmidt, a ninety-one year old, who resides in Lancaster Trillium Place (formerly of Calvary Homes). Dottie's husband, Jim, passed away in August after 70 years of marriage. Jim was also a dear friend and his name came up often during our uplifting conversation around the table. It was a very pleasant and uneventful day until later that evening.

We were driving along rural Ronks Road near Strasburg, after we took our guests home, and a large deer hit the passenger side of our van. It ran into our front fender and spun around banging into both the passenger door and sliding door. It was loud and caught Brooksyne by surprise as she didn't even see the deer, but we sure felt the vibration and heard the loud thump.

I turned the car around and sought to find the wounded or dead deer but it must have had enough life to still run back into the dark field. It's hard to believe it could survive very long.

We've taken good care of our van since purchasing it ten years ago. I suppose you could say until last night it still looked somewhat new as it had virtually no damage on the outside! Eventually we pulled into a brightly lit gas station where we could more clearly assess the damage. Yes, there were some minor dents and chipped paint but then we stopped to consider that many people are dealing with extremely difficult life changing matters and our mishap was relatively minor. As for the deer it certainly had a hard day. Brooksyne considered how different our circumstances would be had this been a person that we hit rather than a deer.

Continuing our drive home another 20 miles or so we turned onto Kraybill Church Road where we live and about two hundred yards before our driveway a large deer zoomed right across the road right in front of us. Stephen slammed on the brakes but thankfully the deer was fast, sparing us further damage to the front of our van. We've lived here almost 25 years and had never hit a deer (although we did while living in northern PA). From our recent experience, I'd say that many deer hunters will easily fill their freezer this hunting season!

I chose today's verse due to the reference to deer but the real lesson is to remind us that we can choose to have an overcoming, faith-filled, joyful outlook even in the midst of adversity. It doesn't happen naturally but it will happen if we are purposeful in that holy pursuit.

Habakkuk was written as Judah was about to be destroyed by the Babylonians and taken captive. The better known prophet during this time was Jeremiah. It was a very desperate time but God had a remnant of faithful people as He always does.

As we look back over the timeline of our lives we recall those seasons which were enjoyable and those which were a trial, sometimes a very intense one. There are ongoing issues that we carry through life. But our struggles are somewhat minimal compared to those who have faced great loss: some have been devastated by destructive earthquakes, deadly tornadoes, natural disasters, wars and there are those living in persecuted lands. Our brethren in Nigeria and many other countries have experienced fierce and deadly persecution from the Islamists and especially so in recent months. Considering their plight and praying for them keeps difficulties such as a deer hitting our van in proper perspective.

“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” What a tremendous resolve of faith. Twice he states the will to live in an attitude of joy (rejoice and be joyful) and in both cases the immutable (unchanging) source of that joy is expressed: the Lord, God my Savior.

The three word phrase "yet I will" brought to mind a contemporary song that is also a response to trials titled, "Yes I Will". We'll post a link to a video below. Consider this refrain as you place your trust in the Lord and sing for joy regardless of what you are encountering in life:

Be encouraged today!  Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber