in your browser menu. Then select 
There are seasons when faith feels effortless and seasons when it feels like survival. Psalm 23 reminds us that God does not always rescue us from valleys; He walks with us through them. The Shepherd does not abandon His sheep when the terrain grows dark. He leads. He stays. He comforts.
For many women navigating suffering, unanswered prayers, and prolonged waiting, this truth can feel distant. This message is for the woman who feels hopeless, confused, or emotionally worn down.
Many of us come to worship carrying unanswered questions. Some bring grief. Some carry troubling medical reports. Others carry silent heartbreak, strained relationships, or buried dreams. Yet the quiet choice to look to God with lifted hands and open hearts is one of the most sacred acts of faith.
Scripture reminds us we are not alone. Many psalms were written in caves, battlefields, and broken places. Even the great hymns we sing today were often born out of sorrow. David sang through betrayal. Job worshiped after devastating loss.
Paul instructed in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 to speak, teach, and admonish one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Research has shown that singing—especially worship—benefits both mind and body, reducing stress, boosting immunity, and releasing “feel-good” neurochemicals. When we choose praise in difficult moments it is not because life feels easy, but because it becomes a pathway to peace and strength in adversity.
People often turn to temporary comforts during times of hurt and struggle, but they only numb the pain. Jesus offers lasting peace because He is the Prince of Peace.
I didn’t grow up in a home that practiced a lifestyle of worship and praise to God. Yet my father would often sing “How Great Thou Art” at random moments. Even now, whenever I hear or sing this song, it touches me deeply. I came to know the awe and greatness of the One my father sang about.
Psalm 23:1 anchors us: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” A shepherd does not abandon his sheep in the valley; He walks with them through it. David continues, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4, NJKV). Valleys are not destinations; they are passageways. God does not promise a pain-free life, but He does promise His presence.
This is where worship becomes deeply personal. Praise in dark seasons shifts our focus to the character of God revealed in Scripture. We often cannot understand our circumstances. Trials arrive without warning or explanation. We may not have answers, but we can turn to God’s Word rather than allowing culture or feelings to define who He is.
Praise is not denial; it is re-centering our perspective. Throughout Psalms, writers begin in despair, fear, or confusion, yet as they remember who God is, their perspective changes. They recall His greatness, deliverance, mercy, unfailing love, patience, provision, protection, and sovereignty. In biblical language, this is called renewing the mind. This is why choosing praise in difficult seasons matters.
There have been moments in my own life when praising God did not come easily. I am acquainted with suffering and brokenness. Like the psalmist, there were days when my tears felt constant. I stood before God with more questions than answers and troubles too many to name. Some days all I could offer were whispered prayers mixed with tears—a broken hallelujah.
Slowly, I began to notice the Lord meeting me in small ways: through His Word, a song, an unexpected text, or a simple act of kindness. My circumstances did not change immediately, but my perspective did. Praise changes perspective, and a God-given perspective is what we all need. To see things from God’s viewpoint, it is important to attach action to faith.
Here are four practical habits that help shift our perspective even when answers have not yet come:
1. Sing and Speak Scripture Aloud Daily
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17, NKJV).
Read Psalm 23 aloud. Declare God’s promises over your home, family, body, and emotions. Speaking Scripture activates faith and peace. Even when you do not feel strong, your voice reminds your soul who God is.
2. Practice Honest, Consistent Prayer
“Trust in Him at all times… Pour out your heart before Him” (Psalm 62:8, NKJV).
God is not offended or intimidated by our questions or tears. Cry. Journal. Lament. Worship. Praise through sobs if necessary. Authentic prayer cultivates safety and connection in the presence of unconditional love.
3. Choose Gratitude in Small Moments
“In everything give thanks” (I Thessalonians 5:18, NKJV).
Gratitude does not deny pain; it defies despair. Even when circumstances feel heavy, look intentionally for reasons to thank God. Gratitude shifts the mind from survival to peace. David wrote the psalms of praise while surrounded by enemies. Paul wrote Philippians—often called the epistle of joy—while imprisoned.
4. Stay Connected to Godly Community
“Bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2, NKJV).
Isolation amplifies suffering. Healing happens in connection. Surround yourself with women who will pray with you, worship with you, and remind you who you are when you forget. We were never meant to walk through valleys alone.
Friend, the Lord—our Great Shepherd—is still guiding you. His goodness and mercy are still following you. Your story is not finished. Praise does not always roar; sometimes it whispers. Yet when we choose it—especially in difficult places—our souls remember who God is.
Even here. Especially here. “Then sings my soul… How great Thou art.”
About the Author
VASHTY DELGADO holds a degree in biblical studies and is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She has pastored alongside her husband at Lighthouse of the Valley in Stockton, California, for more than thirty years, assisting with counseling, mentoring, teaching, organizational leadership, and speaking at ladies’ retreats and marriage seminars.
