Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. Habakkuk 3:18 (NIV)

Devotion Two in this series:

  • When we focus on ourselves and our experience of life, hope can go missing.
  • Turning our eyes to see God’s faithfulness can help hope rise even when times are difficult.
  • Listen to this episode of Real Hope in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Sometimes when I pray with my children, it sounds like a list of woes. Sometimes when I pray on my own, it sounds the same.

We come to our good God, who we know hears our prayers and answers them according to His good plans, but it feels decidedly less hopeful than maybe we should.

He turns his heart, his eyes, his soul to the goodness of God and His faithfulness to His people.

Habakkuk is written in the form of a conversation between the prophet Habakkuk and God. It’s written in a time when Israel was a kingdom divided, scattered and constantly under threat. Their lives were drenched in the depravity of godless nations and there doesn’t seem to be any light on the horizon. It’s raw, honest, but also surprisingly hope-filled. If anyone has the right to make a list of woes surely it would be Habakkuk.

Verse 18 was a beautiful twist in the narrative. Just 3 letters signal a shift. In the midst of the horror around him, Habakkuk says, ‘YET I will rejoice in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!’ He turns his heart, his eyes, his soul to the goodness of God and His faithfulness to His people.

YET – three beautiful letters show us what turns the hopeless around – the best three letters in the world – GOD.

It’s like Habakkuk begins preaching to himself; acting as his own prophet; making sure he remembers the God they worship. In stark difference to the situation he finds himself in, Habakkuk is filled with hope, confidence and praise for God.

YET – three beautiful letters show us what turns the hopeless around – the best three letters in the world – GOD. This part of God’s Word reminds me of the fact that we can preach to ourselves too.

Perhaps next time you’re praying you can use those three beautiful letters too. YET.

Hope 103.2 is proudly supported by

Listen to this episode of Real Hope – The Podcast in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to the YouVersion plan.


Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro

Devotion written by Katie Smith

Originally published as Prayer – Yet…

Jesus Invitations Series

There are three more devotions to come in this series.


Hope 103.2 Network

Hope 103.2 is Sydney’s home for positive, encouraging radio. Our team of writers, broadcasters, and contributors cover news, faith, culture, and lifestyle from a Christian perspective.

Get daily encouragement delivered straight to your inbox

Writers from our Real Hope community offer valuable wisdom and insights based on their own experiences!

"*" indicates required fields

Subscribe + stay connected with all
our latest stories

"*" indicates required fields

Hope 103.2 is proudly supported by