Check out this song which captures the heart of this post well: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=his+mercy+is+more+

The book of Habakkuk begins with a man full of questions challenging God about the wickedness he sees around him and the seemingly unjust ways of the world. Yet by the end, we find Habakkuk on his knees, having reached a crescendo of spiritual maturity through prayer and worship.

This transformation reminds us that prayer is not a last resort but is at the height of faithful living. It's where we truly see, where we gain perspective. In prayer, we exercise the faith of the righteous, turning to God for comfort, praise, and security – even when our circumstances haven't changed.

We must remember that God is in His holy temple.

God's holiness, expressed through His law, acts as a mirror showing us who we really are. It exposes our sin and pride, revealing how we've built our own kingdoms in rebellion against God. This realization can be frightening, but it's a necessary fear that leads us away from pride and towards repentance.

This truth should bring us to a place of reverent silence and humble dependence. The righteous live by faith, and that faith is expressed most purely in prayer.

But what does it mean to fear the Lord? It's not a fear born of God being unhinged or dangerous. Rather, it's a fear that stems from recognizing His awesome holiness and our own inadequacy. God is described as pure light. Like roaches that scatter when the basement light is turned on, we, too, find that light uncomfortable. Yet it's precisely what we need to see the true state of our world and the state of our souls.

In light of God's holiness, we see that sin is not just a minor flaw or occasional mistake. It's vile, sinister, a willful rebellion against God's character. This understanding should drive us to our knees in humility and repentance.

Yet even as we recognize the gravity of our sin, we're called to pray, "Revive your work, O Lord." This is the essence of living by faith – trusting God to continue His work, even when we don't understand or like our current circumstances. We pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done," acknowledging that God's glory is our highest good, even when it seems counterintuitive.

In our confusion and struggle, we can honestly ask God to make His ways known to us. We can seek comfort and understanding, asking Him to remind us of His goodness and faithfulness throughout history.

Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of this is captured in Habakkuk's plea: "In your wrath, remember mercy." We recognize that God's wrath against sin is just and deserved. Yet we also know that mercy is not just an afterthought for God – it's at the very heart of His character and plan.

The apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 1 that God chose us in Christ "before the foundation of the world." His plan of redemption wasn't a last-minute decision or reluctant concession. It was His loving intention from the very beginning, "according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace."

This is the mystery that deserves to be recalled in prayer and remembered in song: In God's wrath, He has remembered mercy. He is not fickle or irritated, but holy and merciful. At great cost to Himself, through the sacrifice of His Son, He has provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him.

As we reflect on these truths, we're invited to lay down our questions, our fight, and our pretense of self-sufficiency. We're called to see our sin clearly, but also to see our Savior. In Him, we find the mercy we so desperately need.

Remember the words of Jesus in John 3:17: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." This is the heart of the gospel – not condemnation, but salvation through Christ.

In our moments of confusion and struggle, may we find ourselves turning to prayer. May we recognize God's holiness and our need for His mercy. And may we rest in the assurance that His mercy is not an afterthought, but the very foundation of His redemptive plan for us.

Let us be a people who live by faith, who sing of God's faithfulness, and who continually turn to Him in prayer.