Have you received bad news? That’s probably a silly question. If you’ve lived long enough, you can likely testify to disappointing or devastating news you, a friend, or family member has received. Jesus told us that in this life we would have trouble, but when we find ourselves in deep waters repeatedly, it’s easy to wonder if we’re going to make it to the shore this time.

The other day we received bad news. For the next few hours, I felt so heavy. My husband has cancer reverberated in my head. Before I went to sleep that night, I asked the Lord for strength. I knew I’d need an abundant supply to help Joel wrestle with his diagnosis. As soon as I woke up the next morning I felt a new hope— a strength that I can only attribute to answered prayer.

My husband is a fixer. When something breaks, he fixes it. And if he doesn’t know how, he’ll educate himself, and then voilà! It’s suddenly like new. But he admitted, “This is something I can’t fix or control.” We can do things to help fight the cancer, but what else, Lord?

While praying, the Lord reminded me of the many obstacles the Israelites faced getting to the promised land, including the roaring Jordan River (Joshua 3-4). We’ll have our own deep river to cross to make it to the other side of cancer.

“Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing (Joshua 3:15-16). 

I don’t know what rushing rivers you need to cross today or the waters the Lord held back for you in the past. I’m encouraged when I remember the many times God showed up for me and did the impossible. This story eases my anxiety when facing a raging river I can’t cross unless God intervenes.

The day before God held up the Jordan River, Joshua tells the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you” (Joshua 3:5). Although God parted the waters before, the Israelites have a track record of forgetting the mighty ways God acted on their behalf, including God’s rescue plan at the Red Sea as Pharoah’s army cornered the generation before. I often forget too. Essentially Joshua is saying, obey what God is telling you and watch the wild thing God is about to do to deliver you again.

I need to start acting today like I believe God will do something tomorrow.

The waters rushed back into place after they crossed the Jordan on dry ground. Joshua later asked each tribe to set up a stone at Gilgal near where they crossed the river to memorialize God’s miraculous act. It was a visual reminder for them, their children, future descendants, and all the people of the earth to trust the Lord continuously (Joshua 4:21-24).

God longs for us to remember His mighty acts in our lives because it increases our faith and gives hope to those who hear our stories. Maybe you are facing a deep, rushing river right now that seems impossible to cross, and you don’t see any signs of the Lord ceasing the flow so you can reach the other side. I have felt that way too.

Many years after the Israelites entered the promised land, a prophet named Habakkuk conversed with God. They discussed the rebellious state of God’s chosen people, specifically the Southern Kingdom (Judah), and how God planned to deal with it. Habakkuk heard bad news.

The ruthless Babylonians would soon take the Israelites captive as a consequence for their disobedience. This article isn’t about God’s judgement. Faithful followers, and the rebellious alike, experience devastating news. This is about our response when faced with unexpected, and often impossible, circumstances, whether it’s a result of our own sin or not.  We can learn so much from the conversation between God and His prophet, Habakkuk.

Habakkuk complains to the Lord, and not just once. I’m grateful God can handle our questions and grievances. Habakkuk models for us what to do after we rant. I carefully chose that word because that’s exactly how I picture Habakkuk talking to God at the beginning of chapter one. And I have ranted to the Lord a few times myself, and sometimes His responses completely humbled me. Habakkuk goes through a process of submission and understanding as he dialogues with his sovereign Lord.

“I will take my stand at my watch post and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint” (Habakkuk 2:1).

God answers and tells Habakkuk the good news and the bad news. He tells him to write down the revelation so it will be so obvious when it comes to pass. God then tells Habakkuk that “the righteous will live by his faith,” the main theme of the entire book (Habakkuk 2:4).

After God’s reply, Habakkuk prays and recounts many mighty acts of God, His faithful deliverance, and His unchanging character. Habakkuk’s faith grows as he reminisces about the great things God has done and the promise of future redemption. He knows he can rest in God’s sovereignty even under such fearful circumstances. Then Habakkuk asked God for His mercy throughout their captivity. This is what Habakkuk taught me in His conversation with God:

Talk to God. He can handle my complaint.

Stand at my watch; position myself spiritually to receive what God says.

Listen intently to His instructions and step out in obedience.

Write it down as a reminder for those days I need encouragement.

Live by faith, believing with hope that God will act on my behalf.

Leave the results to Him. God’s process and timing may not be exactly what I anticipate.

Ask God continuously for His mercy in my life in the middle of my trial.

Habakkuk does something that is often difficult for us: He praises God regardless of the catastrophic news and believes Him for the deliverance to come.

“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” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

How will you believe God in the empty and unknown places?

Friend, through it all, God will increase your faith to climb even the steepest and rockiest mountains. He accompanies you on your climb. He is faithful to keep you safe and bring you to the other side. This diagnosis may have us captive right now, just like the Israelites were captive to their enemy for a time. But we will persevere in faith until Joel is liberated from cancer.

If you and I were sitting on my porch together having this conversation, we’d have our coffee, and you’d see a basket of stones and markers on the table in front of us. We’d talk about the times God parted the waters for us in the past. I’d ask you about the rushing river you need to cross today.

How is the Lord asking you to dip your toes in the rushing water of your current circumstances? What act of belief do you need to take before God dries up your path to cross the river, climb the steepest mountain, or rest in His arms as you wait? What does it look like for you in your situation to consecrate yourself, stand at your watch, ask, listen, and live by faith?

We can be encouraged within the difficulties of today because of the way God showed up for us yesterday. It’s time to remember. 

David said, “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done” (Psalm 143:5).

Imagine you and I really are on my porch together, and I hand you a stone and marker. Write one word on your rock representing a time when God came through for you. Think back to that time, remembering the desperation and uncertainty. Then ponder His rescue and deliverance. What’s your word?

Now choose another word that represents what you are believing God for currently. Write that word on your stone. Set your stone in a place you pass by often as a memorial of the mighty ways God has shown himself to be strong on your behalf and how He will do it again. When people ask what your stone means, your testimony of God’s faithfulness and power will encourage their faith too.

Joel chose “mend” and “grace” for his two words. I chose “healer” and “faithful.” If you’d like to do the same and write your words on a stone, I’d love to hear your story and the words you chose. As always, I will email you back and faithfully pray for you. It is my joy to encourage you on your faith journey as you cross your next river.