I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. -Psalm 34:1
As I read this verse I am reminded of a most fundamental spiritual truth: the follower of Christ is to praise the Lord, exalt His name, and worship Him all of the time and in all circumstances. We are not called to only worship the Lord and praise His name when all is right with our lives, but rather we worship Him even in the midst of the dark valleys we so frequently traverse. Where would we be as Christians, as human beings, if we had to rely upon our own power and resources to lead us through the fires of life's struggles? We would drift aimlessly: no hope, no assurance, no plan, and no peace. Jesus Christ bring us peace, joy, strength, and hope as we walk through the darkest nights and the deepest and most forbidding valleys.
I am reminded of the ship captain who navigates his vessel through a dark and dangerous storm. As long as he keeps his eyes fixed upon the lighthouse, he could move forward with the hope of deliverance from the storm.
