TASTE AND SEE!

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him." (Psalm 34:8 NIV).

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At a season of his life, David praised and thanked God for answering his prayers and delivering him from the hands of his enemies. He said, “Those who look to the Lord are radiant, and their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:5-6 NIV). Because the Lord did not disappoint David when he needed Him, David reminds us in Psalms 34:8 to “taste and see” the Lord for ourselves and attest to His goodness.

My son is a very picky eater, and I would chase him around the house with food, intending to get him to taste what I have prepared. Yes, you read right, chase him around to get him to take a bite of food! As funny as that sounds, it always does the trick. I asked him, “How would you know how yummy it is if you do not taste it?” The same question goes for us: How would we know and experience God’s goodness if we do not make an effort to draw near to Him enough to experience His goodness in our lives? Must someone chase us around and force us to taste God? –This has to be done from a willing heart.

David invites us to draw near God to taste His sweet love and goodness. He said, “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” A taste of God makes us stand out within our storms, shine radiantly, and come out fulfilled. David wants us to know there is a way out, whether at the bottom of the pit or in the middle of a storm. Run to God for His unwavering goodness, compassion, peace, and more.

An encounter with God helps us see the good in the bad, the light in the dark, and His promises in the uncertain. It helps us value ourselves and others, find peace in chaotic situations, grasp hope, and keep pressing on amid the storms. The worst thing is leaving this world without realizing that Jesus is a friend and refuge and not taking advantage of the opportunities to get closer to Him during tough times. This is what Solomon meant when He said, “Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades” (Ecclesiastes 12:4 NLT).

As we remember God for all He has done for us, we must also not forget He is still good when we go through the fires of life. Because no matter where we find ourselves in life or what we face, God remains the same! Wisdom in life is to allow God to direct you; wisdom is to seek Him through challenges. Many of us spend our lives searching for something to quench our never-ending thirst, which can only be satisfied through Christ. When we draw near to God and take refuge in Him, it tells Him that we trust Him. It may be very discouraging to get close to God, whom you expected to prevent your predicaments in the first place. But everything we live for and go through is meant to be for His glory and for us to see and experience goodness.

In our darkest hour, His favor and blessings stick to us like glue. “Jesus reminds us in John 6:35 of this one truth about Himself, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” God wants us not only to draw close to Him but also to have that deep intimacy with Him, to pour our hearts and souls into Him, run to Him when we are weary, and call on Him in times of distress.

When we go to the market and buy something tasty, we also make it known to our loved ones to experience the same great taste. We tell them about that particular thing. This is what happens when we taste God in our lives. We’re never left the same, and His goodness makes an unforgettable mark in our lives. One that pushes us to want to share His goodness with others.

We go through the storms of life so God’s power can work in our lives. The storm is the preparation season, and God’s deliverance is the tasting season. Never give up in your storms before you get to taste His goodness displayed in your life. When we go through the storms, this is not a time for us to push away from God; it is a time for us to draw near to Him and be prepared to taste His endless goodness. "Taste and see! That the Lord is good."