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 (NIV)
Back in the summer of 1967, there was a song written by John Lennon of the Beatles entitled “All You Need Is Love”. While Lennon perhaps saw the need of the human soul, he sought to fill that need with a paste gem variety in lieu of a diamond. He was seeking the Living Water - which totally satisfies – but from the wrong well. What the soul needs is Jesus – Who is agape love - not the Hollywood love variety which Lennon referred to. What the soul has always needed is Jesus. It is He Who enables us to stand on the heights as Habakkuk so beautifully states. He bestows upon us the peace that passes all human understanding – regardless of our circumstances. And amazingly, it is His pleasure to grant us grace giving way to grace giving way to grace.
The Apostle Paul gives us the definition of this agape love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8A (NIV) and it is full of action not emotion: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” John tells us in 1 John 4:18-19 (NIV): “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.”
Our faith can live upon God in all the distresses and successes of life – the latter often being the more difficult to handle. Our souls remain strengthened as the peace of God guards our hearts and souls and minds in Christ Jesus. Through His power within, we are able to stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured because He is able and faithful to cause us to stand. Faith enjoys God in all things, as we rely on Him and not ourselves. He can bring life to dead men, dead hopes and dead dreams – think Lazarus, think Sarah, think Job. Nothing is too hard for Him. And He does this again and again for our good and His glory. He places life into dead bones and hope into dead dreams. Apart from Jesus our souls remain foolish, unsatisfied and wanting. But in Jesus, it is indeed well with our souls.
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)