Joy in times of unpredictable days | May 17, 2026 | Pastor Raph

Joy in times of unpredictable days - by Pastor Raph

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (17) Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail, and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, (18) yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (19) GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places

Habakkuk and the Psalmists made perfect biological sense when looking at the ibex, or mountain goat. When an ibex or mountain goat climbs a vertical cliff, its back hooves step exactly into the precise spot where its front hooves just were. It only needs two tiny rock ledges—fractions of an inch wide—to securely scale a mountain.

Habakkuk’s world was crumbling. God will give him the spiritual traction to stand firm on treacherous ground without slipping into despair. An ibex doesn't wait for the mountain to become a flat, easy plain; it is simply equipped to handle the cliff face as it is. God might not instantly fix our terrible circumstances, but God will give us the strength and agility needed to rise above them.

Every single human being was born into a natural condition of absolute spiritual bankruptcy. In our fallen state, we are completely unable to pull ourselves out of the pit of our own failures.

We only move forward by faith

Habakkuk 2:4[…] but the righteous shall live by his faith.

We should not speak what we see, but what we wish to see. The righteous live by faith because Christ lived a life of perfect trust on our behalf.

Imagine if Genesis began not with a declaration of authority, but with God looking out over the formless void, sinking into despair, and saying, "Wow, look how incredibly dark this is." If the Creator of the universe had merely agreed with the condition of the chaos, the earth would have remained empty, broken, and void. But God did not describe the darkness; He spoke into it. He commanded, "Let there be light,"

God lives in the dimension of faith. That is why Jesus is the author of faith.

Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

The physical principle that prevents you from pulling yourself upwards is Newton's third law of motion. It states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

We walk by faith, not by sight. 

2 Corinthians 5:7 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

So speak faith. Speak the gospel. Speak life.

There are people who think that, first, they should be filled with the Spirit, and then they would speak, pray and sing. But the order of God is the opposite. You speak first, then you will be filled.

Ephesians 5:18-21 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

The healthy Christian life is a continuous practice of hearing, believing and speaking.

When someone is drunk on wine, the substance controls their speech, their steps, and their perspective. Paul says, " Don't let the world or your heavy circumstances intoxicate you into despair. Instead, let the Holy Spirit control your atmosphere.”Actively speak and sing—not just to ourselves, but to one another. When we speak the scriptures, sing hymns, and declare God’s praises, you will be filled.

Anxiety: the primary engine that burns life fuel.

Chronic anxiety is the primary engine that drives, sustains, and amplifies physical disease in the body (Satsangi & Brugnoli, 2018; Sheleg, 2026). The mind alters physical tissue; the connection is undeniable.

Anxiety triggers a constant flood of cortisol and chronic inflammation because the brain is stuck in an "uncertainty loop.”

It is anxiety that brings all sorts of fears and traumas.

Philippians 4:11-13 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

There is joy and contentment, a perspective and thankfulness that can fill our hearts more than anything that this world would ever give us.

Contentment doesn't mean you don't desire change or improvement; it means your inner peace isn’t held hostage by your external circumstances. The moment you say, "I am content right here," you pull the plug on the body's primary neuroendocrine stress response system. You signal to your nervous system that you are safe, cutting off the survival hormones that drive psychosomatic illness.

Contentment isn't found by changing the scenery, filling the barns, or fixing every problem. It’s found in a baseline relationship with the One who gives us the "hinds' feet" to stand firm on steep ground.

The emptiness that found love

Salomon experienced the banquet of pleasures a man can crave. Wealth, fame, power, sex (700 wives and 300 concubines), entrepreneurship, substance abuse and intellectual knowledge.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

No book in scripture exposes the emptiness of pure materialism quite like Ecclesiastes. King Solomon had unprecedented wealth, absolute security, and every earthly pleasure at his fingertips.

Song of Songs 6:3 3 I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he grazes among the lilies.

The reason why nothing the world could give satisfied Solomon is because we ultimately have a void of eternity.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Therefore, all the philosophical questions a man’s heart can ask, “Where do I come from? Why do I exist? Where am I going?” are ultimately answered in God. I came from God. I exist for His glory, and I will meet Him in eternity. 

Riches create an illusion of substance, but they leave the soul completely hollow because they cannot provide identity, purpose, or ultimate security.

Fulfillment is found not in what you possess, but in who possesses you.

Whether you are brought low or abounding, the true treasure is Christ Himself.

When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, He intentionally broke through deep cultural, religious, and gender barriers to reach a thirsty soul.

She was drawing water alone during the hottest part of the day. Jesus shifted their conversation from physical water to an entirely different dimension. 

Earthly "wells" of relationships, status, and material desires she had been pursuing would always leave her hollow and thirsty. 

Her brokenness was the evidence. But Jesus, when he pointed that out, he did not condemn her.

He showed her his true existential thirst, revealing that he knew everything about her and yet still offered her unconditional belonging and a covenant relationship.

By introducing her to a higher dimension of faith—worshiping the Father in spirit and truth—Jesus revealed Himself as the long-awaited Messiah who plants an unshakeable, life-giving fountain directly within the believer's heart.

She was looking to be loved. She tried five times. Her sixth partner was not even a husband. But Jesus came as the seventh, perfect one who eternally satisfies.

The woman completely abandoned her water jar, leaving behind the symbol of her old, exhausting cycles of lack.

"Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.'" — John 4:10 (ESV)

Come to Jesus

What are you thirsty for today? Jesus is the answer in times of crisis.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Come to Jesus. It is not a matter of going to religion, rituals or ceremonies. The obligation of pleasing God in an absolutely perfect way. That is the law.

Matthew 11:28 MSG “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Despite us asking and expecting the blessing, not because of you but because of Christ.