Giving Thanks While Struggling
"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
Do you ever struggle to be thankful when everything falls apart?
The prophet Habakkuk wrote these words after receiving a terrifying vision. God had shown him the coming Babylonian invasion—a judgment that would devastate Judah. Habakkuk saw his nation's future: famine and destruction and loss.
But then there’s that small word "yet" that changes everything.
This isn't denial. Habakkuk doesn't pretend the crisis isn't real or he doesn’t minimize suffering. He stares straight at the worst-case scenario and still chooses joy. Not because circumstances improved, but because his God remained unchanged.
His thanksgiving wasn't rooted in his situation. It was anchored in his Savior. He says, "I will rejoice in the LORD" and "I will take joy in the God of my salvation." His joy flows from who God is, not what God gives.
Remember Job? He lost everything—wealth, health, children. Yet he said, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). Job's worship didn't depend on the blessings. It rested on God's character.
This kind of thanksgiving can feel impossible when you're in the middle of your own disaster. Maybe you've lost a job or a relationship ended or your health is failing or dreams died. The fig tree in your life aren't blooming. How can anyone be thankful then?
Because God himself is the gift.
It’s easy to be thankful when God delivers what we want but have gratitude disappear when the test comes. Habakkuk shows us something better. God himself—not his benefits—is our treasure.
Paul echoes this in Philippians 4:4: "Rejoice in the Lord always." Not only rejoice when things go well. Rejoice in the Lord always.
This isn't about faking happiness. It's about fixing our eyes on Jesus. When we look at our trials, we despair. When we look at Jesus and who he is for us, we give thanks. He is good in every season and he is our salvation when this world crumbles.
Jesus is our ultimate example. He faced the cross—the greatest suffering imaginable. Yet Hebrews 12:2 says he did it "for the joy that was set before him." Jesus endured the worst so we could have the best: reconciliation with God. His sacrifice secures our salvation. That doesn't change, no matter what changes around us.
So when your fig tree doesn't blossom, remember whose you are. God hasn't changed. His promises stand firm. Your salvation is secure. That's worth more than any earthly blessing could ever be.
Remember: Thanksgiving while in difficulty isn't about ignoring pain. It's about trusting that Jesus is greater and better than your pain. When everything else fails, God remains. And he is enough.
May the God of your salvation anchor you with joy when all else is crumbling around you.
Lord, you are faithful and never change. Forgive my complaining heart and moments of doubt. Thank you for Jesus and for giving me joy that can’t be lost. Please cause me to rejoice in you, even when life is empty and hard.
In Jesus’ name we pray
Song: In Christ Alone