"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Sunday, 25 September 2016 with Scripture Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 26 September 2016 with Scripture Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
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Habakkuk 1:1 This is the prophecy which Havakuk the prophet saw:
2 Adonai, how long must I cry
without your hearing?
“Violence!” I cry to you,
but you don’t save.
3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing,
why do you permit oppression?
Pillage and cruelty confront me,
so that strife and discord prevail.
4 Therefore Torah is not followed;
justice never gets rendered,
because the wicked fence in the righteous.
This is why justice comes out perverted.
2:1 I will stand at my watchpost;
I will station myself on the rampart.
I will look to see what [God] will say through me
and what I will answer when I am reproved.
2 Then Adonai answered me; he said,
“Write down the vision clearly on tablets,
so that even a runner can read it.
3 For the vision is meant for its appointed time;
it speaks of the end, and it does not lie.
It may take a while, but wait for it;
it will surely come, it will not delay.
4 “Look at the proud: he is inwardly not upright;
but the righteous will attain life through trusting faithfulness.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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I write in midsummer as headlines tell of more officers shot in Baton Rouge and the terror and losses of Nice, France. In June, I was with a friend recovering from her spouse's suicide. In August I'll companion another in ritual abuse recovery (Really? That's a thing? Sadly, yes.) I wonder what headlines and trials will burden the fall.
I'm grateful for moments when I'm not numb, when I can lament with the prophet's passion: "O Lord, how long shall I cry for help and you will not listen? Or cry to you 'Violence!' and you will not save..." I'm grateful that God does hear, that Jesus cried out with the same passion, that we sometimes find faith for life in dark days.
How do you feel? What is your cry? 
Lord, thaw our hearts to cry for help. Give us patience to wait, faith to live. For Jesus' sake. Amen.
Brenda Satrum, '93
Faith Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Mont.
Habakkuk 1:1 The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.
2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save?
3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.
4 So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous-- therefore judgment comes forth perverted...
1 I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint.
2 Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it.
3 For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.

4 Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith. [New Revised Standard Version] 
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