"The Lord is my Shepherd; I have all that I need... You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies." (Psalm 23:1, 5)
When I'm surrounded by the enemies of trial, sin, temptation, loneliness, testing, confusion, weariness, God prepares a feast before me.
In this season, I have felt this. In hard to define, but undeniable, ways. When it seems that hopelessness may just as well come on in and take over, the Spirit gives me an overwhelming peace. When I come to Him in secret places and pour out my deepest heart, He meets me there with kindness and reassurance. When I ask Him "why?" He tells me He's here.
In those moments, I feast on His goodness. In those moments, I see how He's prepared the table for us to enjoy each other's company. I can see the way He's taken the time to make it just right.
And I can sense that the feast has only just begun. That He's just whetting my appetite for more of Himself. That we're only at the appetizer portion of a multi-course meal.
When I want other, lesser things so desperately, He invites me to lay those things down, and enjoy the Best. And though I wouldn't have chosen this testing, there is a profound and deep beauty in it between us. That He's looking down in love, not condemnation. That though He's allowing it, He's cheering me on. That the feast He has planned for me is worth the wait, worth the trial, worth this fire.
It reminds me of John 21. Jesus' disciples have spent all night fishing with nothing to show for it. But He calls out, gives miracles of fish, and they come to shore. There, on the shoreline, a charcoal fire. Bread. Fish. Already prepared. "Come, have breakfast," He says. They eat. And He restores.
But in the tenderness, may I not miss that He also tells Peter how he's going to die. He tells him simply, profoundly: "Follow Me."
I look and cling to this truth:
"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of our souls" - 1 Peter 1: 6-9
He's testing my faith. But more than that, He's proving it. There is nothing I wouldn't do for Him. There is nothing I want more than Him. In Him is all my delight.
The feast is Him.
Thank you, Lord, for preparing this table for us.
Comments