September 24

The book of Habakkuk opens with a prophet crying out in confusion and frustration. He looks at the injustice and violence around him and asks God, “How long?” Like many of us, Habakkuk wrestles with why a good and powerful God would allow suffering to continue unchecked. God responds—not with immediate answers, but with a larger perspective. He reveals that He is at work, even through unexpected means, and calls Habakkuk to live by faith.

By the end of the book, Habakkuk’s posture has changed. He doesn’t get all the answers he wanted, but he comes to a place of deep trust. He says that even if the fig tree does not blossom and the vines have no fruit, he will still rejoice in the Lord. His circumstances haven’t changed, but his heart has. Habakkuk moves from complaint to confidence, from fear to faith.

2 Corinthians 7 touches on a different kind of heart shift—the transformation that comes from godly sorrow. Paul writes about how the Corinthian church responded with repentance to his earlier correction. He distinguishes between worldly sorrow, which leads to regret and death, and godly sorrow, which leads to life and lasting change. This kind of sorrow doesn't just feel bad—it produces real fruit: earnestness, concern, and a desire to be right with God.

Put together, these two passages give us a picture of spiritual growth: we begin with raw honesty before God, we wrestle with our brokenness, and through His mercy, we’re renewed in both faith and obedience. Whether we are grieving over injustice or convicted of sin, God invites us not to run away, but to draw near. He meets us in our questions and shapes us through our repentance.

The journey of faith isn’t about pretending everything is okay. It’s about trusting that God is still good, even when life doesn’t make sense, and allowing that trust to form a deeper, more resilient love for Him.

To receive daily One Year Bible devotionals directly to your email, sign up here.