Jehovah is no stubborn host like the Pharisee; He provides for the joys as well as the necessities of life; His guests shall be of a cheerful countenance and a gladsome heart.~From The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

The day started out happily, my husband and I enjoying a day in our new location, the boxes unpacked. I commented that, in my opinion, there were too many empty spaces, and I began to speak of my desire to purchase a few other pieces of furniture to fill the blank spots. My husband mightily disagreed. From his perspective, we had just decluttered during the move. "Let's not bring in more stuff," he exclaimed. Hell broke loose at that point. Each of us defensive. Both of us stubborn. Intense. We ate lunch in silence. I isolated from him until the next morning. I rose at five, my head still pounding from a headache that I could not shake. I prayed. "What do I do with this emotional dysregulation, God? The anger I feel toward my husband?"

I went to Psalm 23, crazed with thirst for comfort. "He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies." I could sit down at the table already abundantly prepared for me. I could engage with the Good Shepherd. There was peace instead of anger and anxiety. The Lord could extinguish bitterness of heart and replace it with surrender to an expectation of His goodness. My desire to win the argument dissolved at the banqueting table. Self-effort and striving to defend my point of view evaporated. I could trust God to provide for both my husband and me--his need for practicality and my need to adorn our home with beauty. I can trust the hospitable King for the joys as well as the necessities of life.

And the next day, my husband and I found each other. We would try again. Give and take. Guests at His table. Gladsome of heart. Our foe looking on in baffled amazement that we are the favored ones.