Lessons from David | God Is Always Faithful

You set a table for me right in front of my enemies. You bathe my head in oil; my cup is so full it spills over! Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the Lord's house as long as I live.

Psalm 23:5-6 (CEB)

We have this idea that gratitude comes after victory. Once the danger passes, once the giant is defeated, once we're safe on the other side that’s when we can be thankful.

But what if gratitude isn't supposed to wait until everything's okay? What if we can be thankful right now, in the middle of danger, before we know how things will turn out?

That’s the picture we get in Psalm 23 when the psalmist talks about God setting a table "right in front of my enemies." Not after the enemies are gone. Not once the battle is over. But right there, in the middle of danger, God provides.

That's the kind of God we serve. A God who doesn't wait until our circumstances are perfect before blessing us. A God who provides for us even when we're surrounded by threats. A God who gives us reason to be thankful even before the victory is won.

And that means we don't have to wait until our giant is defeated to be thankful. We can be thankful right now, in the middle of the battle, because God is with us.

Let's look back at what David's story has taught us about facing danger with gratitude: We learned that we need to name our giants and be honest about what we're facing rather than pretending everything's fine. We can't face what we won't acknowledge.

We learned to remember past deliverances and recall the lions and bears God has already rescued us from. Those memories build confidence that God will show up again. We learned that we don't walk through dark valleys alone because God is with us, protecting us and guiding us through the darkness. We learned that courage doesn't come from our own strength. Courage comes from trusting God's presence even when we're terrified.

And now we're learning that we can be thankful before victory because gratitude doesn't have to wait until everything's okay.

So what are we thankful for when we're still facing our giant? When the danger hasn't passed? When the valley is still dark?

We're thankful that no matter what giants we're facing, God is always with us. We're thankful that our giant isn't too big for God. We're thankful that God's presence goes with us into the valley. We're thankful that God provides for us even in the presence of our enemies. We're thankful that goodness and faithful love pursue us, even on the hardest days.

Because this Psalm promises us that "Goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life." Not just on the good days. Not just when everything's going well. Not just after the danger passes. All the days of my life. Even the days when I'm facing giants. Even the days when I'm walking through dark valleys. Even the days when I'm surrounded by enemies.

And that's why we can be thankful even before victory. Because our reasons for gratitude aren't dependent on our circumstances. They're dependent on who God is. And God is always faithful.

So here's what I want you to do: Think about the giant you named at the beginning of this week. The danger you're facing. The dark valley you're walking through. You might not know how this is going to turn out. You might not see the way forward. You might still be terrified. But right now, in the middle of it, I want you to thank God.

Thank God for being with you. Thank God for the past deliverances that prove his faithfulness. Thank God for walking through the valley with you. Thank God for providing courage that doesn't depend on your own strength. Thank God that your giant isn't too big for him.

You don't have to wait until you're safe to be grateful. You can be thankful right now, because God is with you right now.

Prayer for the Week Ahead

God, thank you for this week's reminder that we don't have to wait until danger passes to be grateful. Thank you that we can be thankful right now, in the middle of our battles, before we know how things will turn out.

Thank you that no matter what giants we're facing, you are with us. Thank you that our giants aren't too big for you. Thank you for walking with us through dark valleys. Thank you for providing courage that doesn't depend on our own strength.

This week, when I'm facing my giant, help me to remember that you're with me. When I'm terrified, help me to trust your presence. When I feel inadequate, help me to rely on your strength. And help me to be thankful—not for the giant, but for you. Because you are faithful. You are with us. And that's something to be grateful for, even in the face of danger. Amen.