How do you handle bad news?   I will stand at my watch post; I will remain stationed on the city wall. I will keep watching, so I can see what he says to me and can know how I should answer when he counters my argument. Habakkuk 2:1 NET   In the previous episode, we talked about how to hear from God and how to use what we hear as part of our vision for the future. Sometimes we don't hear what we want or expect.   Habakkuk seems to me to be saying that he wants whatever God will share even if it's not what he wants to hear. This prayer and answer began in Chapter 1 of Habakkuk. He is asking God why let bad people, specifically the Chaldeans, to deliver God's punishment to Israel.   This is another in the discussion of why do bad things happen to good people. Except that we know God states pretty plainly elsewhere in scripture that he is punishing the Jewish people because they didn't obey him. See Hosea 4:6. which is one of the many verses on this subject.   Habakkuk was prepared for God to disagree with him or to correct him. In addition to understanding what God wants him to know, he also is asking God how he should respond. It's like he's saying, "God show me how to respond. "   Do you ask God to give you a response to the things that will happen to you today? Ask him to guide and direct you. Our willingness to obey is part of the reason we hear from God. I think we can be too quick to answer. I certainly need to be more precise, and I need to chose my words more carefully. In fact, I need God to choose my words.   Today, let God choose your words. Let him put words in your mouth. Ask Him for words and how to respond to every surprise and situation. Then ask him what actions you need to take. Many times, praying to hear him is all you need. Your next actions may even seem strange, but you reminded yourself that God is in charge.