Singing in the Barrenness

Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Readings: Isaiah 54:1–10 | Matthew 24:23–35

Isaiah calls the barren woman to sing, which is an audacious command in a world where barrenness meant shame and hopelessness. Yet God proclaims expansion, restoration, and everlasting compassion. His love is “more enduring than the mountains,” unshaken by the failures or devastations of His people. Advent reminds us that God enters desolate places and speaks life where we expect only silence.

Jesus in Matthew 24 warns of false hopes that arise in chaotic times. When the world trembles, we sometimes grasp at things that promise quick deliverance. But the Son of Man’s coming is certain, radiant, and imminent. Hope may seem delayed, but hope in God does not fail.

Isaiah attempts to instill in us an eternal perspective as we imagine God’s abundance on a cosmic scale, inviting us to trust that God is expanding the tent of our lives even when we see no evidence yet. This is the kind of hopeful faith that pleases God. Therefore, sing! Not because life is easy, but because God is faithful.

Devotional Prompts:

• Where do you experience “barrenness” or limitation in your life?
• What false hopes are most tempting when you feel anxious or afraid?
• How does God’s compassion reshape your expectations for the future?
• What would it look like to “enlarge your tent” this season?

Prayer God of compassion and renewal, teach us to sing even in barren places. Guard our hearts from false hopes and fix our eyes on your unshakable promises. Make space in us for your coming glory. Amen.