Even If, Even Then

When prayers feel like they vanish into the ceiling and headlines read like Habakkuk’s laments, where do we find a steady center? We open the ancient conversation between a weary prophet and a faithful God to uncover a surprising path forward: honest lament, patient trust, and a deliberate choice to rejoice even when nothing seems to change.
We walk through Habakkuk’s sharp questions about violence, corruption, and spiritual drift, then sit with God’s unsettling yet comforting reply: the promise is sure, even if it seems slow. From there, we trace the prophet’s turning point—a brave declaration that even if crops fail and stalls stand empty, even then he will find joy in the Lord. This isn’t spin or denial. It’s a resilient posture that lets us acknowledge pain without letting pain write our whole story. Along the way, we share a simple exercise you can use today: list your even ifs, then add your even then. It’s practical, personal, and designed to move you from anxious rumination to anchored hope.
 If you’ve been waiting, wondering, or weary, this conversation offers language, tools, and courage to keep going with clear eyes and a steady heart.

Chapters

• 0:10 Welcome And Daily Purpose
• 0:34 Habakkuk’s Cry For Justice
• 1:10 A Nation In Moral Collapse
• 1:50 God’s Promise To Answer
• 2:18 Even If And Even Then
• 3:12 Naming Your Even Ifs
• 4:14 Add The Even Then And Close

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:10

Good morning and welcome to Starting Right. I am Danny Mack, and I'm going to be here every Monday to Friday to help you get a great start to your day. So grab your cup of coffee, sit back and relax for the next five minutes as I help you start your day by starting right. In the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, we see this conversation between the prophet and with God. And Habakkuk is confused, he is uncertain as to why God has not heard his prayer. He starts off the conversation like this How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Violence is everywhere. I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look I see violence and destruction. I'm surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. Habakkuk was calling out to God from Jerusalem, decrying the state of his country. They were surrounded by enemies who were coming to destroy them. There was corruption and sexual immorality within their nation. The worship of gods of any kind had become prominent within the country, and the worship of the true God had been minimized. He's saying, Lord, why is this happening? Why do you not hear our prayers? Why are you allowing this to continue? This doesn't make sense, Lord. Where are you and why aren't you answering? Where is our help? God responds and promises Habakkuk the answer will come, and that God will not abandon his people. In the second chapter, God tells the prophet, The answer may seem slow in coming, but wait patiently. It will surely take place and it will not be denied. God gives his assurance to Habakkuk that yes, the answer will come. Just trust and just hang on. The entire book is this conversation back and forth between Habakkuk and God. And as we get to the end of the book in chapter three, Habakkuk has resolved within himself how he is going to respond to the situation, how he's going to look at all the things that are going on and all the destruction and all the things that are so bad right now, and yet he has chosen within himself how he wants to react to it. He says in verse 17, Even if the fig tree does not bloom and the vines have no grapes, even if the olive tree fails to produce and the fields yield no food, even if the sheep pen is empty and the stalls have no cattle, even then I will be happy with the Lord. I will truly find joy in God who saves me. Habakkuk declares that although everything else may fail around him, he will continue to trust in God, because there is no affliction, however severe or however trying, that could ever separate us from the love of God. My friend and author, Terry Todd, was speaking to a ladies' group and referenced this portion of scripture, and she left the ladies by telling them this. Do you see all the even ifs in that passage? The writer is telling us that we can rejoice in the middle of hardship and pain. I encourage you all to fill those even ifs with your own even ifs. We all have them. Make a list, whatever yours might be. Even if my marriage is broken, even if I am not receiving healing from an illness, even if I am still unemployed, even if my loved one still has an addiction. You all know what your even ifs are. And maybe the list seems extra long. But once you know your list is done, add the even then part. Like Habakkuk did. Even then I will be happy with the Lord. I will truly find joy in God who saves me. I encourage you all today, make a list of your even ifs. All the things that you are waiting on, you are waiting to find answers for that have not come yet. All the things that are really heavy upon you. Make a list of your even ifs. But then don't forget to add the even then, I will be happy with the Lord. I will truly find joy in God who saves me. It will change how you see your problems. I guarantee it. Have a great day, my friends. We'll talk again tomorrow. Thank you for listening today. And I invite you to join me Monday to Friday right here on Starting Right with Danny Mack.