DEEPER Daily Devotional
Friday, 20th June 2025
Topic: Praise in the Barren Place
Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17-19
When God brings us to a place of abundance, where blessings overflow, our hearts are naturally inclined to praise. But what about those other seasons – the barren ones? The times when the fig tree doesn’t bud, the vines are empty, and the fields lie desolate? When our expectations are unmet, our resources dwindle, and hope seems to fade? These are the “trying times,” the moments that test the very foundation of our faith. The prophet Habakkuk found himself in such a season. Yet, in the midst of this profound distress, his words shift from lament to a declaration of praise. He doesn’t say, “I will praise the Lord if things get better.” He says, “Though… yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God, my Saviour.”
This is not a blind, naive optimism that ignores reality. It is a profound act of faith that chooses to elevate God above the circumstances. Habakkuk understood something crucial: our praise is not dependent on our comfort, but on the character of God. This was the same understanding that made the apostles of the early church rejoice even in persecution. Paul and Silas could sing praises in prison, knowing they could have been killed the next day.
It’s natural to feel the weight of these trials, to grieve, and even to question. But there is a higher posture. When you praise in the barren place, God’s presence becomes more real to you than the challenge. As you become conscious of His presence, your environment will respond accordingly. Don’t wait for the testimony. Praise your way out of the old and into the new.
Prayer: Father, I praise You while I wait, and I will praise You when the testimony comes. No matter the situation, this heart of mine will give You praise.
Written by : Elorm Mensa
