Living His Word

Habakkuk 3:19 ERV:
The Lord GOD gives me my strength.
He helps me run fast like a deer.
He leads me safely on the mountains.

Where does your strength come from? Does it come from the power of your own flesh and self-determination, or does it come from somewhere or someone else? For Habakkuk, the source of his strength came from above. The Lord God was the source of his strength and, as a result, he had supernatural strength at work in his very natural life. Habakkuk could do the “whatever I must do” of the Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:13) through the supernatural power at work in his weakness (II Corinthians 12:9).

Thus, Habakkuk could run like a deer. The metaphor indicates that Habakkuk could, with the strength of the Lord God, run through life like a deer running through the fields. For a deer, running through the fields is a seemingly effortless endeavor. Instead of the slogging and trudging of mere humans through the fields, Habakkuk could negotiate the streams and vast expanses with the speed and ease of a deer. When you go through life in the strength of the Lord God things are a lot easier than when you try to go it alone.

Habakkuk, however, could do more than just run swiftly through the fields. He could also safely find his way upon the mountains. This metaphor indicates that Habakkuk could, with the strength and leading of the Lord God, find his way through the insurmountable obstacles of life like a deer bounding up the mountain sides. Instead of the difficult climbing required of mere humans,Habakkuk could negotiate the rocks and trees with the sure-footedness of a deer. When you go through life with the strength and leading of the Lord God it is a lot easier to handle the obstacles of life than when you try to go it alone.

Apart from the Lord life can be very hard. Before you come face to face with the fields and mountains of life today, take Habakkuk’s words into consideration. Seek the strength and leading of the Lord God and make things easier on yourself.