There’s an old story about a woman who lost nearly everything during a financial crisis — her job, her home, her savings. Yet, every morning, she would open her worn Bible, whisper a song of praise, and say, “Lord, thank You that You’re still good.” Months later, when her life began to turn around, she often said, “My praise in the valley kept me strong until the mountain came.”

Habakkuk understood this kind of faith. He looked around and saw nothing but loss — failed crops, empty fields, and a bleak future. Yet he declared, “I will rejoice in the Lord.” His joy wasn’t based on what he saw but on Who he knew — a faithful God who never changes.

It’s easy to praise God when life feels fruitful, but true gratitude is tested in the valleys. Gratitude in hardship is not denial — it’s declaration. It declares, “God, You are still good even when life isn’t.” And that kind of praise strengthens our hearts and shifts our perspective from despair to hope.