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b'Ever heard of Habakkuk? This book of the Bible is rarely preached on or even discussed, which is a shame because it\\u2019s a fantastic gem in Scripture. Like the other eleven minor prophets, the book of Habakkuk provides a snapshot of Israel\\u2019s history, one that not only reveals God\\u2019s plan but also relates to us today. \\nHabakkuk, the titular prophet of this book, prays a prayer everyone has utteredat some point: \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153How long, Lord, must I call for help?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d (Habakkuk 1:2). Simple. Direct. Clear.\\nLord, we\\u2019re in trouble here. When are You going to step in and help Your people?\\nGod answers, but not how Habakkuk wanted. God raises up the Chaldeans, the ultimate fighting machine, to invade Judah and imprison the Israelites living there.\\nHuh? How is that an answer to Habakkuk\\u2019s prayer? He wanted an end to the pain, and yet it looked like God was going to make the situation worse. Enslavement by the mighty Chaldeans seemed the unlikeliest solution of all. What Habakkuk didn\\u2019t know was that the Chaldeans were merely an object in God\\u2019s plan to save His people.\\nFlash forward six hundred years. Israel is awaiting a Messiah, one who would deliver them from their suffering. At that time, the Romans enslaved them. So the Israelites wanted a mighty warrior, the ultimate fighting machine who would propel them to victory. Instead, they received Jesus, a wandering rabbi and his ragtag group of followers. Their hopes apparently ended when He died on the cross at Calvary.\\nWhat they didn\\u2019t know is that the only means of salvation\\u2014which is what they had been waiting for\\u2014was Christ\\u2019s death and resurrection, not His army. His work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead give us hope now and forever. He was and is our answer to \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153How long?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d \\n\\u2022 Have you had a situation that made you ask, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153How long?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d \\n\\u2022 Read Revelation 21:1-5. How does knowing Jesus promises to return to make all things new\\u2014free from sin, suffering, and death\\u2014affect the way you view suffering in the world? \\nHow long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you do not save? Habakkuk 1:2 (CSB)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nHabakkuk 1:1-11'