He Will Deliver Us

Despair is an emotion that causes us to lose our focus and trust in God. It is what happens when we allow ourselves to consider the ways of the world as better than God’s. Despair is a familiar foe to God’s followers. Jesus warned: pray and do not lose heart. 2 Cor. 1:8-10 – Paul overcame this deadly emotion by trusting in God. Habakkuk reveals his vulnerability to despair (Hab. 1:2-4). Like Habakkuk, we struggle with problems. Pray persistently, only to feel as if our pleas are rebuffed in silence. How can we handle that – to keep us from dropping into despair?

I. Despair Destroys Faith in ___________________________

A. 1:3-4 - Habakkuk grew weary of the immorality around him.

1. Christians can tire of the rampant evil in today’s society.

2. we often ask God:

a. Why does God allow ____________ to prosper when I don’t?

b. Why does ___________________ seem to be winning?

c. Why God? I follow your will…I keep my part of the covenant. Where’s your ______?

B. At times all we have to rely on is our _________________________.

C. God’s _______________________ does not mean that He has abandoned us!

II. Despair Encourages Strife, _____________________ and Bitterness

A. 1:3-4 - Habakkuk found a nation that was more concerned about self than others.

1. Those ensnared in despair trust in their own ___________ to explain the evil.

B. Deut. 28:65 - Israel had been warned that despair would be a consequence of sin.

C. Too often the solutions for today’s problems are sought in the wisdom of man.

a. Jer. 10:23 - We must look to _____________________!

III. Despair Surrenders ___________________________

A. 1:2 – Habakkuk had given up and thought evil had won.

B. Heb. 10:35-39 - We must never forget the ___________________ of God.

C. Romans 8:31-39 - victory comes through ___________________.

D. _______________________ is ours through Jesus – 2 Cor. 4:7-10.

IV. Despair places All Blame on ________________________

A. Habakkuk felt that God was _______________________ to act.

1. Evil abounded because of man’s wrong ___________; not because God failed to act.

2. Many people blame God when things don’t go well. Job 9:17; Ps. 77:7-9

B. James 1:13, 17 - God is not the source of evil but ___________________.

V. Despair always sees The Negative, Never the _____________________

A. Habakkuk saw nothing but negativity.

1. Nothing in Judah was right; it was a lost cause. (1:4)

2. Christians also manifest the despair of Habakkuk.

a. Our vision is “_____________ ________________”

b. Even though we may not see it right now, God is at work.

VI. Despair insists Upon __________________

A. 1:2 - Habakkuk had prayed and waited for God to do something to cleanse Judah.

1. We often expect God to work on our timetable instead of His.

a. Like Habakkuk we want answers to our prayers….____________!!

B. 2 Peter 3:3-10 - God does not work on our time; must __________ Him to care for us.

VII. Despair Ruins All _________________ for the Future

A. Habakkuk thought nothing good could come of his people.

1. Pro. 13:12 - His blindness kept him from looking forward and seeing the possibilities.

B. Heb. 6:19 - Christians have an eternal ____________ that cannot be taken away.

1. Remember, God sees the end from the beginning.

Conclusion

A. Despair will rob you of your peace, health and most importantly your soul.

B. How much do you trust your God to care for you?



He Will Deliver Us Despair is an emotion that causes us to lose our focus and trust in God. It is what happens when we allow ourselves to consider the ways of the world as better than God’s. Despair is a familiar foe to God’s followers. Jesus warned: pray and do not lose heart. 2 Cor. 1:8-10 – Paul overcame this deadly emotion by trusting in God. Habakkuk reveals his vulnerability to despair (Hab. 1:2-4). Like Habakkuk, we struggle with problems. Pray persistently, only to feel as if our pleas are rebuffed in silence. How can we handle that – to keep us from dropping into despair? I. Despair Destroys Faith in ___________________________ A. 1:3-4 - Habakkuk grew weary of the immorality around him. 1. Christians can tire of the rampant evil in today’s society. 2. we often ask God: a. Why does God allow ____________ to prosper when I don’t? b. Why does ___________________ seem to be winning? c. Why God? I follow your will…I keep my part of the covenant. Where’s your ______? B. At times all we have to rely on is our _________________________. C. God’s _______________________ does not mean that He has abandoned us! II. Despair Encourages Strife, _____________________ and Bitterness A. 1:3-4 - Habakkuk found a nation that was more concerned about self than others. 1. Those ensnared in despair trust in their own ___________ to explain the evil. B. Deut. 28:65 - Israel had been warned that despair would be a consequence of sin. C. Too often the solutions for today’s problems are sought in the wisdom of man. a. Jer. 10:23 - We must look to _____________________! III. Despair Surrenders ___________________________ A. 1:2 – Habakkuk had given up and thought evil had won. B. Heb. 10:35-39 - We must never forget the ___________________ of God. C. Romans 8:31-39 - victory comes through ___________________. D. _______________________ is ours through Jesus – 2 Cor. 4:7-10. IV. Despair places All Blame on ________________________ A. Habakkuk felt that God was _______________________ to act. 1. Evil abounded because of man’s wrong ___________; not because God failed to act. 2. Many people blame God when things don’t go well. Job 9:17; Ps. 77:7-9 B. James 1:13, 17 - God is not the source of evil but ___________________. V. Despair always sees The Negative, Never the _____________________ A. Habakkuk saw nothing but negativity. 1. Nothing in Judah was right; it was a lost cause. (1:4) 2. Christians also manifest the despair of Habakkuk. a. Our vision is “_____________ ________________” b. Even though we may not see it right now, God is at work. VI. Despair insists Upon __________________ A. 1:2 - Habakkuk had prayed and waited for God to do something to cleanse Judah. 1. We often expect God to work on our timetable instead of His. a. Like Habakkuk we want answers to our prayers….____________!! B. 2 Peter 3:3-10 - God does not work on our time; must __________ Him to care for us. VII. Despair Ruins All _________________ for the Future A. Habakkuk thought nothing good could come of his people. 1. Pro. 13:12 - His blindness kept him from looking forward and seeing the possibilities. B. Heb. 6:19 - Christians have an eternal ____________ that cannot be taken away. 1. Remember, God sees the end from the beginning. Conclusion A. Despair will rob you of your peace, health and most importantly your soul. B. How much do you trust your God to care for you?