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.

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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. 

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Last week my son asked, “What are the scientists saying about when we can go places again?” 

Well, isn’t that the question of the year? Everyone agrees that our actions in the next few weeks and months are important, but there’s much less agreement on what those actions should be — even among the experts. Sometimes I go down the internet rabbit hole of article-reading, trying to figure out the best plan, before I realize that no one is asking me for my opinion! Instead, I pray for wisdom for our leaders who are looking at the data and deciding on the next steps. And I pray for wisdom for us as individuals as we navigate these unprecedented times. 

When I feel anxious all we don’t know about this virus, I find comfort in knowing that the Lord has all knowledge, and He will guide us. We need an expert, and we have one in the Lord. There is no limit to the extent of His knowledge and wisdom, not just about viruses, but about everything in all creation. He is the ultimate Expert of everything. 

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’” (Romans 11:33-34)

We can confidently choose to trust the Lord because of His riches of wisdom. He knows the past, present, and future. He knows all the possibilities and which ones will become realities. He knows how He will provide for His children and every situation they will face. He knows what is best for us, even when it doesn’t make sense from our perspective. 

Not only does He know all things, but He uses His knowledge to always do what is right. We can feel safe putting our lives in His loving and faithful hands.

We may be tempted to trust in the experts – and we should listen to those who have spent their careers studying for this moment. But as we listen to experts, let’s trust in the Lord who knows every atom He’s created. 

No matter what you face this week, you can trust the One who is the ultimate Expert of everything. 

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I’ll never forget the empty shelves during that pre-dawn trip to the grocery store. It was a few days into the quarantine, and I ventured out to the grocery store, arriving at opening time and hoping it wouldn’t be crowded. I wandered around the store, trying to figure out meals based on what was available. Many of us have recently felt the stress of lacking what was once plentiful, whether it’s income, a 401K balance, groceries, or toilet paper.  

One of the most well-known verses in the Bible tells us that God will supply everything we need. It’s so familiar that sometimes we forget how truly incredible these words are: 

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)

Step back and imagine you are an ancient Israelite, worshipping the Lord with your family, hearing this for the first time. I think it would make me stop and think, because this verse makes some shocking claims!

First of all, David says the Lord is our Shepherd. He’s not only Creator and King ruling over all things. He’s more than a strong Rock or Shelter we can run to for protection. He is all of these things, but He is also our Shepherd. He is with us, knows us personally, carries us, and provides for us.

And because our Shepherd is also the Creator of the universe and the powerful King of kings, we shall not want. Let that soak in. We will not ever go without anything we need. 

I’ll be the first to admit this doesn’t always feel true. (I need a vacation, right?!) But we see throughout God’s Word that He provides for His children. He gave His most precious gift to provide for our greatest need: His only Son sacrificed for our salvation. As Romans 8:32 says, we know that in addition to Christ, He will give us everything else we need. 

My Shepherd may not give me everything I want, but He gives me everything I need. As I learn to find my greatest delight in Him and in His gifts, I shall not want. 

No matter what you face this week, your Shepherd will give you all that you need. 

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