“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”
Psalm 34:8 (KJV)
Life has a way of testing what we say we believe. It’s easy to declare, “God is good!” when the doors are opening, the report is clean, and the path is smooth. But God’s goodness is not measured by our circumstances; it is rooted in His unchanging character.
David wrote Psalm 34 after a season of fear and danger, yet in that context he still cried, “O taste and see that the LORD is good.” He had experienced God’s deliverance firsthand. Commentaries note that “taste” here implies a personal encounter—more than hearing about God’s goodness, it is trusting Him enough to lean on Him and finding, by experience, that He is faithful.
When trials come, the enemy whispers, “If God were really good, this wouldn’t be happening.” But Scripture consistently shows us that God’s goodness often shines brightest in the dark:
- Joseph, betrayed and forgotten, later testified, “God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20).
- Paul, imprisoned and beaten, could still declare, “And we know that all things work together for good…” (Romans 8:28).
- Ultimately, the cross—history’s greatest injustice—became the greatest display of God’s goodness toward us.
The goodness of God does not mean we will be spared from every hardship. It means we are never abandoned in it. It means His purposes are loving, even when they are not yet clear. It means He is working, weaving, and redeeming, even in what seems wasted.
Today, God invites you not just to agree that He is good, but to “taste and see”—to trust Him in the very place that hurts, to bring Him your questions, and to lean into His heart. As you do, you’ll find that His goodness is not fragile, not fickle, and not tied to the outcome you can see. It is anchored in who He is.
Reflection Prayer:
Lord, I choose to believe that You are good, even when I don’t understand my circumstances. Help me to “taste and see” Your goodness today. Open my eyes to how You are at work, and strengthen my trust in Your heart toward me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.