Freely Speaking Audio Devotion

November 17, 2025

Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation.

Today’s devotion was written by Karen Wardle.

“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 ESV.)

Habakkuk paints a picture of barrenness: no fruit, harvest, or flocks. It’s a description of life stripped bare of comfort and security. And yet he declares, “I will rejoice in the LORD.” This is not shallow optimism. It’s the deep resolve of a heart anchored in God’s character rather than circumstances.

Like many of us, I have experienced hardship, yet God is great! He is always praiseworthy. Hardship doesn’t silence worship; it refines it. When everything is gone, what remains is the pure act of lifting our eyes to the One who never fails.

This truth echoes in the hymn It Is Well With My Soul. Horatio Spafford, who penned it after losing his children at sea, reminds us that peace isn’t found in the absence of suffering but in the steadfast presence of Christ. “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.” These words mirror Habakkuk’s declaration: joy and peace rooted in God alone.

Worship depends not on what we see, but on who He is. The fig tree may be bare, vines empty, and fields dry. Yet God remains our salvation, strength, and song. When we lift our voices in praise amid brokenness, we’re declaring to the world—and our own hearts— Jesus is enough.

Sisters, let us be women who worship not only in abundance but also in loss. Let our praise rise not because life is perfect, but because God is unchanging, faithful, and worthy in every season.

Prayer: Lord, teach us to rejoice in You when the vines are empty and when the harvest is full. May our worship always proclaim: “It is well with my soul.”

Thank you for joining us today. If you would like to learn more about OhSoFree Ministries, please visit us at www.ohsofreeministries.com.