He stood and surveyed the earth; He looked and startled the nations. Yes, the perpetual mountains were shattered, the ancient hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. I saw the tents of Cushan under distress, the tent curtains of the land of Midian were trembling. Habakkuk 3:6-7

As sure as I’m sitting here, there will come a day when the Lord will have had enough of evil, and he’ll ride onto the scene. All will quake at the sight, men and nature both. Terror will grip the earth. No one will escape his piercing eyes as he surveys the land. His bow will be ready. His spear will glisten in the sun. And then he’ll act.

In Habakkuk’s mind were also vivid scenes from the past. For example, the power God exerted over the Red Sea.

As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. Exodus 14:16

The Lord parted the sea as if with his own hands and the Israelites went through on dry land. He then released the waters to engulf and destroy chariots of the pursuing Egyptians.

There was also the day when he caused the sun to stand still (Joshua 10:12-14).

Sun and moon stood in their places; they went away at the light of Your arrows, at the radiance of Your gleaming spear. Habakkuk 3:11

What he saw and what he knew from the past–the Lord’s reputation preceded Him–caused Habakkuk to “stress out.”

I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, for the people to arise who will invade us. Habakkuk 3:16

At the conclusion of the Great Tribulation described in Revelation, the Lord will finally pull out all the stops. I happen to believe that I won’t be here, but will join the conquering army. So, I’m not stressed.

For all others, you might not want to “hasten the day” until you take care of business.

For added incentive, read this. And I’d try to get on the winning side. It won’t be pretty.

You went forth for the salvation of Your people, for the salvation of Your anointed. You struck the head of the house of the evil to lay him open from thigh to neck. Habakkuk 3:13