Feasting in the Darkest Hour

God prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies. Sounds familiar? Yes, it is the very verse in Psalm 23. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” -Psalm 23:5. Because God is your Shepherd, He provides everything you need. Even in difficulty, He provides comfort, strength, and victory. When you are confronted with pain and difficulty, He expects you to face your battle with confidence. He may not remove the pain, but He gives what you need to go through it. A table in the presence of your enemies depict a comforting, confident, and provided stance. No one sits in front of an enemy. If we are to face an enemy, we should be bringing a weapon for self-defense or attack. A table is far from the good weapons we could choose from to face the battle. On the contrary, when we are seated at a table, we are probably eating with friends or feasting with them in a moment of celebration. Doesn’t this tell you volumes about who God is when you make Him your Shepherd? He fights for you. In your darkest times, you can feast before your enemies because it is God who prepares the table for you. You are not the one setting the table before your enemies to sit before them. It is God who places you there in a position of victory.

When you worship God in the dark times, it is overcoming unbelief. That moment when you have no strength left. You feel broken. Your hope is crushed. Your tears spill like a pouring rain. Your faith fills you with questions. You know that God is faithful and good but you are asking why is this happening. Then, even when you are angry, afraid, and doubtful you go to God and pray. You still tell Him, “Lord, I do not understand but I believe, You are good. I am hurting, but I know that You know what is best for me.” You cannot seem to put together how the pieces fit in the situation or even comprehend how God’s gracious hand is holding you up, but deep inside you, you just know and you believe that He is there and He is still good! There is nothing left for you to do but cry and pray. Even when doubts are coursing through you because of what you see and feel, you still pray because you still believe. Worshiping God in the troubled times is overcoming the unbelief that your emotions are trying to convince you. The words from one of the songs of Don Moen (I WIll Sing) speaks of this accurately. It says, “I will sing. I will praise. Even in my darkest hour. Through the sorrow and the pain.” When God prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies, He makes you confident to face the giant as the shepherd boy David faced the mighty Goliath with a sling. It does not mean that you are always composed and unmoved. It means that you are sure of victory even when you do not feel it. Just like another song that speaks the faith you hold in times of darkness. “And even when I don’t see it, You’re working. Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working. You never stop, You never stop working.” – Leeland (Way Maker). He is working even when you do not see it or feel it.