“The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice” - Psalm 97: 1-2 (NIV). 

Our verse today may seem to be stretched for someone going through the valley. But yet it is for that very fact that the Lord reigns. For if the Lord ceases to reign, then who is! The Lord reigns not just in good circumstances, but in all situations. The faith of believers is not hinged on good moments, alone, but even in the midst of hopelessness, we look up to the Almighty to make sense out of meaninglessness.

In Psalm 23:4, King David wrote, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” What King David is saying is that even in the midst of the darkest of the depths, the Lord never deserts us.  He is there. This is why Psalm 91:1-2, says, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

In the old kingdoms whenever a king would die, the throne, now vacant, there would be terror and a feeling of emptiness throughout the nation. The kingdom was now paralyzed for there was no one reigning on the throne. In fact, a certain succession battle would quickly follow to fill the vacuum. Calmness only returned after a new King was seated on the throne.

But that is not the way with believers. The throne of the Almighty is never empty. The Lord reigns in good and bad circumstances.

And because He reigns, there is hope.

Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, because you reign in all circumstances, I know there is hope, and I can rejoice, for you are with me, no matter the situation!