It’s easy to praise God when you feel fulfilled in life. When the crops ripen, prayers are answered and we have plenty. God is good, and don’t we want to sing and shout about it? He deserves all our praise! But when we wait for the crops to bear fruit and our prayers go unanswered, we feel empty. We know that God is good, but perhaps we don’t feel that God is good right now. Deep down we know that God is worthy of praise, but let’s be honest: it feels unnatural to worship without praise.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 contains these awe-inspiring words: “Though the fig tree should not blossom and the vines bear fruit, though the olives should fail and the fields be empty and barren, though the flocks should die in the fields and the barns be empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and I will rejoice in the God of my salvation” (NIV)! How was the author of this book able to praise God both in times of scarcity and in times of overflow? In both seasons of scarcity and abundance? Perhaps because true faith blesses God in both seasons.
If the field is empty
Trusting God in difficult times is an empty reality. When we experience loss, unanswered prayers, and emotional burnout, our faith feels lacking. Not only that, we may even feel forgotten or disappointed by God. If God truly loves us, why do we experience such sadness?
In reality, Habakkuk’s response shows a radical and enduring faith, regardless of the season. Lines 17 and 18 mention fig trees without flowers, vines without vines, failed olive crops, empty fields, dead flocks, and empty barns. Yay! Let’s talk about recession season. Yet these verses end with praise. They end by choosing joy before the situation changes. Do you know how?
Learning to choose joy before circumstances change is neither natural nor easy. But it can be realistic and honest. Blessing God in scarcity means expressing honest lament (rather than a false positive attitude). This means telling God exactly how you feel, without hiding your feelings. But that also means not stopping there. And we choose to trust God beyond our emotions, even when we lack tangible evidence. We do this by anchoring ourselves in the divine nature, regardless of the outcome. God is who He says he is, regardless of what the world around us looks like.
Because two things are true at the same time: we can have hope and still learn to name our grief. Faith does not cancel out our emotions. It stabilizes them no matter what happens next.
If the field is full
Unlike an empty field, a complete field is easier to praise God. We often call this “abundant faith” because life is good. But this is where many Christians, myself included, must learn to be vigilant. Because even though we are lacking, we do not forget God. When we are full of life, we often forget about the Lord.
A subtle danger of abundance is that it can make us self-sufficient. Instead of constantly trusting God and relying on Him, we begin to depend on ourselves. We may even forget to praise God, forgetting that He is the one who meets all our needs. I don’t mean to, but if you don’t make room for praise, life will keep happening. Deuteronomy 8:6-14 warns about this very phenomenon:
“Therefore walk in the ways of the Lord your God, and fear him. Obey his commands. For the Lord your God is leading you into a good land, with streams and pools of water, with springs and springs gushing out in valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranate trees, and olive oil, and honey. There is plenty of food, and there is no shortage of anything. Iron is as common as stone, and copper is plentiful in the mountains. When you have eaten your fill, praise the good land that the Lord has given you. But then, when you have become rich and you have built good houses to live in, take care that you do not forget the Lord your God. “And the money multiplied with all other things. Be careful, do not be proud then, and do not forget the Lord your God, who delivered you from slavery in the land of Egypt” (NLT).
That’s great, but abundance tests our faith. Because gratitude can disappear into entitlement. Suddenly, blessings can replace blessings. And if we’re not careful, we end up living for what God has for us instead of who He is. If we want to avoid such practices, we must remember what it means to bless God during the season of plenty. This may include intentionally expressing gratitude, opening your arms and giving generously, or remembering where that provision came from.
An unchanging attitude of mind
In every season, we are called to have faith that blesses God. For God is worthy of abundance and scarcity, richness and emptiness, richness and poverty, in every season. God’s goodness is not based on what He gives or withholds. God is a good God who loves to provide for his children. But like any good parent, God wants us to be grateful for who He is, not what He has given us.
Mature faith is not seasonal, but stable. It is supported by situational worship, which allows us to change our identity from “God is good because life is good” to “God is good because he is God.” It is an attitude of mind that will not change no matter what hardships or blessings you may encounter.
If you’re looking for practical ways to bless God in every season, consider these ideas.
• Keep a gratitude journal. Write down three things you are grateful for each day. Then review the list at the end of each month.
• Pray in all seasons. Even in difficult times, praise God in all that you lack and in all that you have. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but keep going. It’s not fake. It is a dedication to God that is more than deserved.
• Remember the customs of mourning and celebration. Share your tough seasons with God. But don’t forget to rejoice in the good times too. I love doing this by worshiping God through song and dance.
• Stay grounded in the Bible by reading it every morning and night. I recommend studying the Psalms because of how they relate to the ups and downs of life.
It is not easy to overcome empty fields and unanswered prayers, but Habakkuk reminds us that empty fields do not mean serving an empty God. Regardless of your situation, choose to worship today. And if you don’t give up, you will eventually reap the harvest. More or less, he deserves all our praise.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Emilija Manevska
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up, Amber looked for resources on faith and mental health, but couldn’t find anything. Now, she gives hope to young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond just reading the Bible and praying more. Because even though we love Jesus, we can still be plagued by anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help you navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.
