David’s sermon draws inspiration from the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, focusing especially on chapter 3:17-19. This passage describes a time of great difficulty and scarcity — when the fig tree doesn’t bud, no grapes are on the vine, the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food. Yet, in the midst of these challenges, the prophet declares, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
David emphasizes three central truths from Habakkuk's story:
- Praise is a Choice, Not a Feeling.
David explains that, just like love, praise is fundamentally a decision. It isn’t based on how we feel or upon our circumstances. Rather, it’s an act of faith and trust in God’s character, choosing to worship even when things are hard, uncertain, or disappointing. He draws examples from scripture—David worshiping in a cave, Job praising God in the midst of tragedy, and Paul and Silas singing in prison. The theme is clear: praise often comes before the breakthrough. - Praise Changes Perspective.
The act of worship doesn’t always change our situation immediately, but it transforms how we see it. Instead of focusing on what’s missing or on the chaos around us, praise lifts our eyes to God: who He is, His faithfulness, and His presence. This shift moves us from despair to hope, aligning our hearts with heaven and reminding us that God is our source of strength. - Praise is Powerful When You’re Weak.
David explains that worship has the greatest impact when offered from places of weakness, loss, or exhaustion. Just as Habakkuk praised God despite failing crops and empty fields, we too can worship even when we feel powerless. In these moments, praise transforms weakness into worship, and despair into testimony. “God doesn’t need our strength, He wants our surrender and our trust,” David proclaims.
Key Takeaway:
The core message is that, regardless of circumstances, believers are called and able to say, “Still, I will praise.” This kind of faith-filled worship is a seed planted in barren soil—it grows not because everything is perfect, but because God remains faithful and good. David encourages everyone to choose praise as a daily decision, to let it shape their perspective, and to know its power especially in hard times.
He concludes with a challenge: “Whatever your fig tree is—be it exhaustion, waiting, disappointment, or hardship—declare, ‘Yet I will praise.’ Let this choice carry you through tough seasons, and discover how worship can lift your soul higher than any trial.”