God not only allowed for joyful worship but also commanded it.
The thoughtful believer recalls God's faithfulness in the past when confronted by any new threat. Part of spiritual maturity is strong sense of one's own history.
Spiritual leadership ought to be given to those who have proven themselves under stress.
Discouragement is contagious and is easily transmitted to others.
Distance is no barrier to the love of God.
The worship of false gods is always an outgrowth of spiritual deception.