Ideally, eating a meal is a relaxing, joyful experience. The hunting and gathering are over, the preparations have been made. It’s time to sit down with family or friends and fill your stomach with tasty and nourishing morsels.

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

So, I wonder about this verse from the famous 23rd Psalm. Why would God prepare a meal for me while I’m surrounded by enemies?

I think the point is that God promises to bless me and provide for me, even when life is challenging. When things look bleak, God is right here with me, caring for me, making sure I have rest, sustenance, and comfort when I lean on Him.

Yet my enemies, my struggles and challenges, remain. Why didn’t God get rid of them before putting out the silverware? Then I could really sit down and enjoy my meal.

God is not my servant. He is my God. He seeks to teach me, to expand my strength from one day to the next. He wants me to grow and learn to trust Him no matter what. And He wants me to prioritize love and righteousness, to be more like Him.

So my enemies remain. While I commune with God at the table, I should contemplate what God would like me to learn from those enemies. He will give me the nourishment I need, spiritually and physically, to fight my battles, but I still need to fight them in order to grow in the way God intends.

Dear God, thank you for the promise to provide what I need when I need it as I trust you. Please show me what you want me to learn from this day’s struggles. Give me the strength to overcome and the peace to know that I can, because of you.