Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed that he had a dream in which every person would be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. He pursued this dream because of his conviction and the clarity of this vision, despite his gloomy environment at times.

Psalm 23:4 says, “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.”

We can have clarity and confidence even in darkness.

When we look around the world it may seem unrecognizable from years ago. There is unrest in the nation because of the economy and societal issues. Our communities are being developed and though this is providing needed housing, it seems to breed some woes like more traffic, pollution, and crime. Many are dealing with some type of mental health issue and use various means to cope, from food to entertainment to vices. Many feel more stressed with daily living than ever before with the seeming storm of a non-stop schedule swirling around them. Clarity seems harder to realize or maintain.

Yet we can be reminded that according to Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

In other words, because we have God, we do not need to succumb to the pressures of our environment and feel hopeless or despair. We need not lose the clarity of what is ahead of us. We can still perceive clear blue skies, today and again tomorrow.

Be encouraged today.