Habakkuk: Remembering God's Faithfulness When He Seems Silent

by Dannah Gresh

Why does God seem silent when I need Him most? The prophet Habakkuk faced great storms in life. His fears of the future crippled him with doubt and left him questioning God. How is it, then, that he is now a shining example of how the righteous live by faith? Learn how the storms of life can become opportunities to activate your faith in Remembering the Faithfulness of God When He Seems Silent. You’ll study the book of Habakkuk—which maybe you’ve never done before!—and discover how remembering is essential to understanding the faithfulness of God. Through daily Scripture, prayer, and meditation, you’ll enter the life of this prophet, This six-week study provides daily interactive Bible study and an easy-to-use leader’s guide for group participation. Dannah Gresh also hosts a six-session podcast series to kick off each week of study. Find it at dannahgresh.com.

Genres: Nonfiction, Faith

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2020

About the author

Dannah Gresh, a mother/daughter communication coach, has sold well over three quarters of a million copies of her books—including And the Bride Wore White and 2008's best-selling CBA youth book, Lies Young Women Believe (coauthored with Nancy Leigh DeMoss)—making her one of the most successful Christian authors targeting teens and preteens. With the belief that today's culture has been seeking to rob little girls of their innocence, Dannah has been fighting on the front lines to protect them. Her fun line of Secret Keeper Girl mom/preteen daughter connecting resources and live events that tour the country provide moms with just the right tools to fight back. She has long been at the forefront of the movement to encourage both tweens and teens to pursue purity and is often called upon to defend the conservative position of abstinence in national news media like USA Today, Time, Chicago Tribune, and Women's Wear Daily. She is also a frequent contributor to FamilyLife Today, Midday Connection, and Focus on the Family. Dannah lives in State College, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bob, and their children, Robby, Lexi, and Autumn, whom the family adopted from China in 2007. She and her husband founded Grace Prep, a new model in Christian high school education, which Bob administrates. She is shamelessly in love with her labradoodle, Stormie. (DannahGresh.com)

Reviews

[Michele Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not many of us look to Habakkuk, the obscure minor prophet, for much of anything, never mind insights on the problem of evil, but I am reading and studying there with the help of Habakkuk: Remembering God’s Faithfulness When He Seems Silent by Dannah Gresh–and I’m surprised at what I’m finding!
Set against a backdrop of moral decline and impending exile, Habakkuk opens with a raging question, flung into the silence of God:

O LORD, how long shall I cry,
And you will not hear?
Even cry out to you, ‘Violence!’
And you will not save.”
God speaks into the silence in verse 5 with the kind of verse we love to put on T-shirts and couch pillows:

Look among the nations and watch–
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe,
though it were told you.”

To Habakkuk’s “Do you see us?” God delivers a decisive, “Yes,” but instead of reassurance, instead of promises of restoration and rescue that echo His words to Moses or Gideon, God promises judgment at the hands of a heathen nation!

Dannah Gresh uses the breadth of scripture to interpret the prophet’s message and his times in a six-week study that incorporates a deep reading of the text with prayer prompts that encourage meditation on the message. Gresh defines meditation as “what happens when studying and praying collide,” and shares six habits of living by faith that emerge naturally from Habakkuk’s prophetic writing. For readers who long to remember the faithfulness of God in the past as a confidence booster for dealing with hard times in the present or fears about the future, the little book of Habakkuk will be a surprising source of inspiration and Dannah Gresh a skilled and sympathetic guide.

Many thinks to Moody Publishing for providing this book to facilitate my review which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.

[Dawn Klinge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This six-week study of Habakkuk is a comprehensive, beautifully written guide that incorporates the author's podcast, prayer, study, and meditation. It seems especially relevant during the time of Covid, as it was written to remind God's people of His faithfulness when it might seem as if he's silent. There are five-days worth of work for each week, and it is intended to be done with a group. There are fill-in-the-blank sections, word studies, a timeline, and questions that invite deeper thought spread throughout the book. I thought this study was well done, very robust, and designed for the woman who really wants to dig deep into God's Word.

[Create With Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Habakkuk is a 6-week Bible study from Moody Publishers that helps you to answer the question, “Why does God seem silent when I need Him most?” Each week, Dannah weaves together weekly podcasts, Bible study, daily Scripture reading, discussion questions, and more to help women understand how Habakkuk went from a life of doubting, fearing, and questioning God to one of living by faith.

During this study, you’ll meditate on a number of practical, topical questions, such as:

* How do I know whether I’m living by fear or by faith?
* Why is it so hard to hear God when I’m hurting?
* How do I rejoice when I’m terrified or simply don’t feel like it?

In the process, you’ll discover how many of the issues that the people in Habakkuk’s day faced bear striking similarities to the issues that we face in our culture as well.

If you are curious about the Old Testament and the prophets but have been concerned that these topics would be to difficult, dry or irrelevant to study, then Habakkuk is the perfect study for you! By studying Habakkuk, the author hopes that women will remember how God has been faithful in the past, gain perspective on the trials that they’re currently facing, and learn how to navigate them free of fear and full of joy.

This excerpt is taken from the original review that is published on my blog. To read my review in its entirety, please visit Create With Joy.

I received a copy of this book through Moody Publishers. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[AlegnaB † · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has too much of Dannah Gresh's commentary and not enough focus on what the word of God says. Also, if you have objections to contemplative prayer, skip this.

[Sarah Messer]

I grew spiritually through this study. I was blessed by learning to silently pray by listening for the Lord’s voice and was challenged by the Lord to wrestle with Him on some matters. I would definitely recommend!

[Sarah Beth Rizzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I started this study hoping for a more in-depth dive into the text / poetry, I loved the encouragement to meditate and pray and praise, and the study did a great job of contextualizing the book. Dannah is a unique voice, and this was a sweet introduction to her for me. Also, don’t skip the podcast - so conveniently on Spotify!

[Lauren DuPrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Habakkuk: Remembering God's Faithfulness When He Seems Silent is the latest book by Dannah Gresh. This Bible study is one of the newer ones in the line up that Moody Publishers produces for women. The format for Habakkuk is a bit different in that the work for each day is listed as a Meditation rather than an assignment. Personally, I enjoyed this format because it generally involved more reading and less writing. One neat element of the Habakkuk study that is different from the other Moody studies for women is that it contains an accompanying podcast series for those who would like to dig a little deeper. While these resources complement each other, you don't need one in order to utilize the other. It is exciting to see resources being developed to help women understand the Old Testament and God's word in general. It seems that many Christians are still confused about the significance of the Old Testament in relation to the New Testament and the Old Testament in general. What I appreciate about Habakkuk is that Dannah helps women understand why this book of the Bible is important. One way she does this is by simply explaining the historical context of the book of Habakkuk. On pages 31-32, Dannah instructed and explained, "Find 930 BC on the timeline and note how I've handwritten, 'Israel Divides.' This is a somewhat significant event in the history of Israel. I found that plotting on the timeline helped me to see when Israel was one nation and when it had divided. The Northern half retained the name Israel and comprised ten tribes. The Southern half was called Judah and included the other two tribes, which retained the sacred land of Israel. Habakkuk's prophecy concerned the nation of Judah." I am grateful this information is included in the book because it helped me understand Habakkuk a bit better and I know it will be helpful as I read other parts of the Old Testament. Habakkuk was written to help women understand the faithfulness of Habakkuk as he waited on God but Habakkuk isn't the only Old Testament example of faithfulness that Dannah used. She encourages women with one of my favorite Old Testament heroes, Daniel. The words Dannah used to expound on Daniel's faith are comforting and very applicable in this day and age. On page 144 she said, "The faith that Daniel and our brothers and sisters in China embrace is not ultimately in God rescuing them from their 'lion's den,' but through it to glorify God. Like Jesus, they did not want the suffering but willingly submitted to the will of the Heavenly Father rather than invoke their own (Luke 22:42). Their faith is wrapped in heavenly perspective, obedience, and hope. I'm working on being that kind of Christian. I want to desire and submit to His will and not my own. I long to have a faith that is truly rooted in the conviction that God's plan- whatever it may look like- is the best path for my life." I really enjoyed Habakkuk and I'm thankful to see one more resource available to help women cultivate a complete understanding of God's word. I received Habakkuk compliments of Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

[Prairie Sky Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever experienced a particular book being dropped into your lap at precisely the time when you most needed it? That was the case for me with a new release in the Moody Bible Studies for Women series, written by Dannah Gresh. “Habakkuk: Remembering God’s Faithfulness When He Seems Silent - A 6-Week Bible Study” arrived in my mailbox at a very opportune time, and I have grown and learned so much because of this powerful book.

Is the prophet Habakkuk, who has an entire book in the Bible named after him, someone you are well acquainted with? Don’t feel bad, I wasn’t either! At least I wasn’t until I picked up this study and dove into the life and times of a man from whom we can glean so much wisdom. Using warm and inviting weekly podcasts, interactive daily lessons, and a tender writing voice that spoke so closely to my heart, Dannah Gresh invites readers into a journey of faithfulness along with her and Habakkuk. I was challenged, my faith revived, and my hope built up as I read this book and went through the daily lessons and exercises. It truly makes us stop and ponder our own hearts as we study the habits of living by faith: wrestling with God, looking to see where He working, embedding our questions for the Lord with truth, watching for His answers, fearing Him, and singing praise to our Heavenly Father.

I cannot recommend this book by Dannah Gresh highly enough. It felt like it was written straight from her heart to mine, and I devoured each page as I eagerly dove into each day of study. It was fun, and it was challenging. It even made me cry as it urged me to examine my own heart a time or two. So what are you waiting for? Find your own copy of this treasure-trove of wisdom... Dannah, and Habakkuk, have so much to teach us about living by faith.

I received this book courtesy of Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Julie D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another wonderful study from Moody Publishers There is so much through put into this study and I love that they made it beautiful inside and out with gorgeous illustrations and lots of purple, which in my opinion, is always a good thing.

Most importantly, this is a very Biblical study with focus on a book of the Bible I wasn't really familiar with. Habakkuk is a prophet that we can very much relate to today as he was living in a broken world (sound familiar?) and wondering where God was in all this. I know right now that a lot of us are wondering what's going on and how our world got so very broken. I love how God reassures us through this amazing book in the Bible.

This six week study is an in-depth look at Habakkuk and it has been so encouraging to me. Dannah has set this study up so wonderfully and I learned so much! She starts out with description of what we will be learning. She then has 5 meditations where we take a deeper look into the Scripture and answer the questions. I really like that there is enough room to write in your answers! There are charts to fill in occasionally and everything brings us deeper into the Word of God. I absolutely love studies where we fill in things! What is really great is that Dannah provides a podcast at the end of each week where she explains what we have learned. Such a wonderful bonus to this study!

I enjoyed this study so much and it was great doing it on my own, however, it would be great for small groups or women's Bible studies. It's just a great study all the way around! Obviously, I give it 5 stars.

*This Bible study was provided to me by Moody Publishers. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book.

[Diane Estrella · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I've heard of this author previously, this is the first time I've read her words and felt her heart. Lovely.

This book is so relevant right now. So needed. There are so many questions in our world currently, and this book helps bring some guidance and assurance to the chaos. I appreciated the history she also included and how everything is linked together in the Bible and through to where we are today. Very interesting. I like the set up of the book as well. Watch one 25 minute video and do 5 lessons per week. Very manageable and if you miss a day you can make it up and not get behind. This would be an easy integration into a 6 week home group Bible study.

There are definitely some editing issues in this book. It states to reference the previous day's study but it was actually 2 days ago. The spacing on some of the lines was too small. Also, the author will pose a question, and the answer does not seem as obvious to me as it was to her. While the accompanying videos are good and helpful, the answers required to the questions in the book were rushed through as well... These are all nit-picky things that while overall do not diminish the value of this workbook and study, it does cause unnecessary frustration that could have been avoided with better editing and planning.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Ra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely worth the read. I would suggest printing a copy of Habakkuk ahead of time - Dannah asks for a lot of highlighting and circling and I hate doing that on super thin Bible pages. I wish they would have just included the main text in the book! It’s also confusing that I don’t know what version she is referring to on some questions, I sometimes was supposed to find words that weren’t in my version! There are a few things I did not agree with (the top around the priests ankle is not in the Bible, it’s just a widely spread fable!). Loved the section about pride. Also loved the timeline, and study of sections of Daniel complimented the Habakkuk study. Prayer and praise, excellent ending!

[hoadbear · Rating 5 out of 5]

This study will be worth every moment of time you give to it! I was able to participate in the study group in advance of the official release of the book and it was so good. I enjoyed that Dannah Gresh has you dig beyond the book of Habakkuk to see how things fit together throughout Scripture. She also provides great definitions of terms used in this book of poetry to help make things clearer.
Gresh challenges readers to dig deeper and allow questions to be an opportunity to trust God while wrestling out the answers and the hope that only He can give.
If you're on the fence about this study, do it. You will be so glad you did!

[Laressa Nordgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege to go through this book this summer with the author doing weekly zoom meetings with us. The study is absolutly timely for what we are going through in America right now. Who would have thought that the small book of Habbakuk would be where we could turn to when we are facing global issues like we are today. Dannah Gresh never disappoints with bringing true Biblical knowledge to her readers. It is a six week study with five daily lessons to give you soul time to meditate on God and His word. I would highly recommend this book for moms to do with their teenage daughters, churches to use with a ladies' Bible study class or even an individual study would be good as well!

[Maci Feather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dannah Gresh's study on Habakkuk is a great way to dig in deeper into your Bible. Gresh does an excellent job on expanding and explaining verse by verse what it means and how we can apply it to our lives. One thing I enjoyed the most about this study was the way she incorporated other books of the Bible (Daniel, Psalms, 1 Peter, 1 Timothy..etc) and how they all connect. I loved doing this study everyday as a time to dive deeper into the word, but also reflect on what is going on in my life and how I can utilize my time with God.

Thank you Moody Publishers for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Aimee Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would rate this about a 4.8. I found this to be a great study that cross referenced Habakkuk with other passages in the bible. It has passages to read, short stories that tie in with what you are reading for the day, and many questions for you to answer. This was exactly the study that I needed at this time!

Each of the chapters begins with a podcast and has a page or two of fill in the blanks. I would only knock off 0.2 from the rating because I am a nut when it comes to fill in the blank forms and there always seemed to be at least one that I could not figure out even after re-listening to the podcast.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent study of an often overlooked book in the bible, but one that has much to teach us about waiting, God's faithfulness, and our posture towards Him. Questions are a mix of bible comprehension and self-reflection/application. Dannah Gresh also takes you through various scriptures, not just Habakkuk, to grow your faith and remember who God says He is. It was a thorough, challenging, and in-depth study, and definitely worth the time it took (which was longer than the recommended 6 weeks in order to really process and grow from the scriptures and study questions).

[Kayti · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up. Habakkuk is one of my favorite books of the Bible, and I’m not sure this study does it justice. It’s a bit too surface-level and, at times, a bit cheesy. She claims to not take Habakkuk 1:5 out of context like everyone else… but then she kind of does, especially at the close of the book. I didn’t know anything about the author before diving in but after seeing some of the other titles she’s written, I think I would have skipped this one. Took me awhile to make it through.

[Kendall M. Rintamaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked doing this. It was fun going from Habakkuk to Daniel a bunch. Daniel is the fulfillment of the prophecy spoken in Habakkuk. My one thing is that she has great commentary but I feel like a lot of questions are observation and then she like explains the interpretation sometimes - which is helpful but I sometimes wish i was able to explore that some before reading it. But overall - I did really enjoy this.

[America · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this study! Last summer, I stumbled upon Habakkuk in my Bible and found it spoke for me in regards to 2020. A year later, our world is still boiling over and we are studying this at church. It is so relevant! Dannah has incredible insights and notes, reminding us to remember His glory and His promises. That He is working through it all, even through the mess.

[Laurie Hetherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!! This bible study is unbelievably relevant for life in 2021/2022. It is well worth my time spent to be reminded of the sovereignty of God in the midst of a world growing darker each day.

If you are in need of hope, read the short book of Habakkuk (3 chapters). If you don’t understand and want more knowledge, use this study guide alone or in a group.

[Deannamand · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good study of a very small book. The prophet Habakkuk has much to say about living in a world where evil seems to triumph over good. We are encouraged to remember God’s faithfulness and his promise that eventually all will be well and to trust even when he seems silent. A very timely study as we wrestle with living in Hope.

[Wendy O'Keefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completing this Bible study will NOT leave you disappointed. The message is so timely for our world today. My daughter, mother-in-law and I went thru the study this summer and we all enjoyed it, learned a lot and were challenged in our walk.

[Joy Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did this Bible study in conjunction with another online study on Habakkuk. Both were excellent. Dannah includes a lot of background information and takes us to multiple scriptures in order to get the full picture. I appreciated the lessons, as well as the prayer time in each one.

[Diana Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Bible study on the book of Habakkuk. The videos are interesting and timely, the study questions really dig deep into the text and other books of the Bible and the prayer and journal times are really helpful.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful blend of history, and Bible study. I learned a lot, and it was the perfect study to do during a time where I was wondering about God’s hand in my life.

[Heather Richmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple of hiccups with the podcast notes and a few verses were inaccurately addressed, but wonderful study overall. Updated edition may have the few kinks worked out!

[Dr Ariel Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very in-depth study of Habakkuk, with deep questions that provoke personal reflections and prayer.

[Katrina Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this study!!

[Cheshers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This study helped me find a love for the Old Testament that I didn’t know I was capable of. A good, convicting soul searcher.

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good study.