“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

Whatever problem you may be facing today, God has the answer. God IS the answer! Therefore, regardless of who you are or where you are, you can rejoice in the Lord, and you can rejoice in His salvation. You can say with Habakkuk, who was such a pessimist in the beginning of this book, “I will rejoice in the LORD.”

TRUE JOY IS A DECISION! – “Yet I will rejoice…”

It is a personal decision – “I.” Nobody else can do it for you. It is something you must make a personal decision about. Don’t let problems or other people steal your joy.

It is a positive decision – “will.” Not “I might” or “I should,” but “I will.” It’s not an emotional, intellectual, or natural decision. It is volitional – “I will!”

It is a premeditated decision. That is, it’s something you decide ahead of time. The psalmist said, “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise” (Psalm 57:7).

TRUE JOY IS A DEPENDENCE – “in the LORD…”

Whenever you see the name of God written in capital letters, it is the name of Jehovah. This speaks of Who God is. He is the Everlasting One! He is the Self-Existent One! He is the Almighty One! But we also see here what He does – “…the God of my salvation.”

We are not to depend upon ourselves, our circumstances, or even others for our joy. Our joy comes from the Lord. “The joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b).

TRUE JOY IS A DELIGHT – “The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet…”

Habakkuk the prophet began this book with a “burden” (1:1) and a “cry” (1:2), but he ends it on a high note or praise. He starts with sighing and ends with singing. This book opens in gloom, but it closes in glory. It begins with a question mark, but ends with an exclamation point! May we be encouraged by that!

Joy is God’s plan and precept for every Christian. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). By the way, Paul wrote that verse from a Roman prison. Will YOU rejoice in the Lord?