THIS PART OF MY LIFE IS CALLED... PERMISSION TO REJOICE
Micah Smith
Today's Scripture: "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... yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Habakkuk 3:17-18, NIV
Theme: Joy isn't dependent on your circumstances—it's a choice to trust God's unseen work in your life.
THE FIVE-YEAR WAIT
When you plant the seed of a Chinese bamboo tree, you water it, fertilize it, and care for it with the dedication of someone who believes in what's coming. And for five years—FIVE FULL YEARS—you see absolutely nothing. Above the soil, it looks like your efforts are pointless, like you're watering dirt and talking to yourself. Then suddenly, after that seemingly endless wait, the tree shoots up 80 feet tall in a matter of weeks.
What was happening during those five invisible years? The bamboo tree was developing a massive underground root system—a network strong enough to support that explosive growth. Without those unseen years of foundation-building, the tree would never have been able to rise so quickly or sustain its remarkable height. The waiting wasn't a waste of time; it was essential preparation.
Choosing joy during a time of struggle is like caring for that Chinese bamboo seed. It's an act of faith and cultivation, trusting that a breakthrough is coming, even when you can't see progress above ground.
JOYFUL IN SPITE OF, NOT BECAUSE OF
In the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, there's a scene that perfectly captures this principle. Chris Gardner and his son are staying at a homeless shelter, attending a church service during what seems like the lowest point of their journey. He's caring for his son, surviving an unpaid internship, competing against 20+ other candidates for one full-time position, all while not knowing where they'll sleep each night. By any measure, this should be a moment of despair.
Instead, the church choir is singing, and Chris finds himself in a moment of worship. The message of a song speaks directly to his situation—"Lord, don't move the mountain; Give me the strength to climb.” In that moment, Chris isn't choosing joy because his circumstances are good; he's choosing joy in spite of his circumstances, trusting that this season matters, even when he can't see why.
The prophet Habakkuk understood this same radical choice. When he wrote about rejoicing even when the fig tree doesn't bud and the fields produce no food, he wasn't in denial about his reality. He was declaring that his joy wasn't held hostage by his circumstances—it was rooted in something deeper and more reliable than what he could see.
Make it Personal: How often do you live like joy is a luxury you can only afford when life is going well? What if joy isn't a response to good circumstances, but a choice to trust God's unseen work in your life? Like the bamboo tree, what root system might God be developing in you during this season that you can't see yet?
Pray: Father, help me choose joy not because life is easy, but because You are faithful. When I can't see progress, remind me that You're building something underground—a foundation strong enough for the growth You have planned. Give me the courage to tend and water what You've planted in me, even when I can't see the results yet. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Read: Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4
Weekly Memory Verse: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9, ESV