When I was a teenager, an exciting new restaurant opened in my small hometown: we finally had a Chili’s! The best part about Chili’s wasn’t the thin, crunchy tortilla chips or the indulgently breaded chicken strips with salty fries. Chili’s most amazing feature was something I’d never seen before—unlimited soft drinks. 

Before my Dr. Pepper could empty all the way, the server would swap it for a full glass. And this endless supply of Dr. Pepper would continue throughout the meal. I wondered how they could stay in business, handing out glass after glass of Dr. Pepper like that! 

David lived a few thousand years before Chili’s and their unlimited Dr. Pepper, but he had a Shepherd who led him in green pastures, through the valley of the shadow of death, to an even better table overflowing with good gifts. 

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5)

Even though David is still in the presence of his enemies, God provides a refuge filled with refreshment. With the Shepherd’s protection and provision, David sits to eat in a lavish setting. Expensive oil anoints his head; his cup is filled to overflowing. God’s precious sheep lacks nothing. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m struggling right now. I feel empty inside—I’m running out of fun ideas at home, weary of trying to put a happy spin on months of disappointing cancellations, and desperate for the refreshment that comes from face-to-face fellowship with loved ones. My cup doesn’t feel like it’s overflowing today. 

And yet, Psalm 23:5 is still true. Can we see the table spread before us? God’s good gifts may not be exactly what we want, but He will always provide what we need: His grace, mercy, forgiveness, presence with you, care for us, unparalleled comfort, unexplainable peace, and unending faithfulness. 

Our Shepherd invites us to take a seat and feast on His lavish goodness to us. Feel the oil on your head that reminds you that you are precious to Him. See your cup overflow with good, spilling over onto the table as you reach for it, reminding you that God’s provision is more than you need. 

No matter what you face this week, your cup overflows with God’s good gifts.

Where does your hope come from?

I know the Sunday school answer to this question is “Jesus.” But I also know my own heart and my tendency to want something more tangible in which to place my hope.

In our current global crisis, we may put our hope in our leaders, medical experts, the latest experimental coronavirus treatment, or our personal approach to keeping ourselves safe. I know when I see the uncertainty around me, I’m tempted to look to these for comfort, peace, and reassurance.

If our marriage is failing, we might place our hope in couples counseling or a strategy for changing our spouse. If we are struggling financially, we might place our hope in working overtime toward a promotion at work. If we are stressed about the political climate and the direction of our country, we may place our hope in getting our candidate into office.

Wise choices, godly counsel, diligence, knowledgeable experts, sound leadership . . . none of these things are bad. There’s nothing wrong with pursuing these things. But they shouldn’t be our source of abiding hope, because the hope they give will be short-lived. They won’t satisfy our deepest fears and doubts regarding our struggles.

The only hope that will truly satisfy is our hope in the Lord.

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.” (Psalm 62:5)

A few months ago, we looked at this verse and how it teaches us to wait on the Lord. This verse also promises us that as we wait on Him, we will receive a hope that cannot be shaken. The hope that He gives can’t be washed away by a new development in the pandemic or a positive COVID-19 test.

Through every storm, this truth remains: The Lord is our rock and our salvation, the fortress where we can seek shelter, and our unshakeable hope.

No matter what we face this week, the Lord is our only source of unshakeable hope.