BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. - Habakkuk 3:17-18
3 Reasons to Worship God in the Barrenness
By Jennifer Waddle
Worship is not only an expression of the soul to our loving Creator, it is also a choice. For in times of ease, we find it delightful to lift hands of praise. But in times of hardship, we struggle to even find the strength to worship.
As life sometimes takes on the form of barrenness, through empty womb or lonely heart, finding joy in the God of our salvation can be challenging. Rejoicing in the emptiness can feel counterintuitive, but it is the exact thing needed for the journey.
God is in the barrenness. We have to believe that, even when we don’t feel it. For without Him, there is no hope.
“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7
Here and now, in the midst of the “lonely,” the Lord is worthy to be praised. He is still on the throne and He is good. Above every situation, He remains steadfast and holy.
Do we believe that?
Here are 3 reasons to worship God in the barrenness.
1. God has a divine purpose for every season.
There is a foundational and divine purpose for everything we are allowed to go through in this life. That isn’t an easy truth to accept, but it is necessary for rising above the pain, enough to praise God through it.
Remember, the enemy wants to steal our praise. And in the midst of intense trial, he will pounce on our vulnerabilities and lie to us concerning God’s divine purpose. However, when we declare that God is Sovereign over every situation, we can then look upward instead of inward, and worship Him in the barrenness.
To everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1
2. Jesus is our First Love.
I’m afraid it is part of human nature to love ourselves the most. Self-centeredness is a struggle for even the most serving of hearts. Especially when we face difficult seasons, our attention is quickly turned inward. Almost by default, we strive to make the “uncomfortable” go away.
Therefore, it is crucial to remember our “First Love” in times of barrenness. By loving God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, we will still be able to worship no matter what comes.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 ESV
3. God will turn our mourning into dancing.
Barrenness is but a season, a painful time of yearning and wandering. But God is faithful. He is with us in it and He sees us through it. No matter how long the road seems, how dark the night is, there is joy in the morning. The Lord turns every sorrow into rejoicing and our mourning into dancing.
For I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13
Choosing to worship in times of barrenness is a beautiful and sacrificial act of love and obedience to a worthy Creator. By loving Him with our whole heart, and knowing His divine purpose exceeds our current circumstances, we will indeed dance with joy again.
This devotion was taken in part from Jennifer Waddle’s blog post, Lonely in a Crowded Room. (You can read the entire post here.)
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