How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” Habakkuk 1:1-3
Polarization is the word of the decade as we struggle to deal with people with very different views. Polarization causes anger, fear, anxiety and violence and often because of misunderstandings. Does the American election come to mind? The day after I watched the social media news light up with words of anxiety and fear, and despair after the American election. Yet there is a corresponding number of people who are celebrating. Creating a culture of polarity. Culture is interesting to study as it informs who and what we are. Currently the culture is creating polarity, and the question is how do we heal those wounds. Christians have a unique position in the world to bring a different view to the world and bring a pause and help people take a breath from the worldly concerns. The problem is where our focus is… our focus must be on God who is the one in control and not any human construction. There was a Coca-Cola campaign slogan used during the great depression, “The Pause that Refreshes.” The pitch was for Coca-Cola, but cleverly it addressed the concerning context of the time of adversity, anxiety and fear. The intent was to bring hope to a challenging time. We need a pause from the polarization to focus on what has true meaning and find hope. The prophet Habakkuk was in a place, like today, where people are crying out for answers. Grappling with spiritual distress and the apparent silence of God. Habakkuk is seeking answers in the tension between his faith and life’s challenges. And God’s reply to Habakkuk is “watch and be utterly amazed for I am doing something that you will not believe.” Habakkuk is taking a breath, a pause and trust that God has this. Trust that God is at work in every situation working in minds, lives and hearts bringing light to the darkness of this world. To enjoy the hope that the grace of God brings.
In Paul’s writing in the Bible, numerous times Paul uses the word rest in his preaching. We think of this word rest as speaking of physical rest or something resting on a surface. Paul uses that word in a slightly different way with a different meaning. That Christians are used by God to bring a refreshment of heart and spirit by encouraging others. Christians can create a pause and help people focus on the reality of the world. The reality that we need to not focus on the culture that says humans have all the answers to look to politics for a savior but to focus on God and the truth he through his grace is at work in this world.
