Kwamena stared down at the plate of food in front of him. His friends had invited him to try a new restaurant and they had all raved about how amazing the food was. But Kwamena was skeptical. The dish looked unfamiliar and he wasn’t sure if he’d like it.
“You’ve got to try it!” his friend Claude said, grinning. “Trust me, it’s incredible.”
Kwamena hesitated. He wasn’t great at trying new things, especially when it came to food. But eventually, he picked up his fork and took a bite.
His eyes widened.
“Whoa,” Kwamena said, surprised. “This is… actually amazing.”
“Told you!” Claude replied, laughing.
As Kwamena took another bite, he thought about something his grandmother had once told him: “You can’t fully understand how good something is until you experience it for yourself.”
Later that night, Kwamena was reading his Bible when he came across Psalm 34:8:
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”
The words struck him. He thought back to the moment at the restaurant when he had hesitated to try the food. He realized he had been treating his faith in a similar way, reluctant to fully trust in God or step out in faith because he wasn’t sure what the outcome would be.
Kwamena’s faith had always been more intellectual than experiential. He believed in God, but he hadn’t truly tasted and seen God’s goodness in his daily life.
“God,” he prayed, “I don’t want to just know about You. I want to experience Your goodness for myself. Help me to trust You and take refuge in You.”
Over the next few weeks, Kwamena started looking for opportunities to “taste and see” God’s goodness.
- Trusting God in Uncertainty
Kwamena had been worrying about a major decision at work. Normally, he would have stressed about it endlessly, trying to figure everything out on his own. But this time, he prayed and asked God for wisdom. As he trusted God with the outcome, he felt a sense of peace that he hadn’t experienced before. - Experiencing God Through Service
Kwamena decided to volunteer with his church’s outreach team. One day, while serving food at a homeless shelter, he struck up a conversation with a man named James. James shared how God had been faithful to him, even in his hardest moments. Hearing James’s story reminded Kwamena of God’s goodness and faithfulness, and it inspired him to trust God more in his own life. - Gratitude for Everyday Blessings
Kwamena began keeping a gratitude journal, writing down three things he was thankful for each day. As he reflected on God’s blessings, both big and small, he started to notice His goodness in ways he had overlooked before: the kindness of a friend, the beauty of a sunrise, the comfort of Scripture.
One evening, Kwamena sat on his porch, watching the stars. He thought about how much his perspective had changed in just a few weeks.
He had always believed in God’s goodness, but now he had experienced it through answered prayers, opportunities to serve, and moments of peace and gratitude.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good,” he whispered, smiling. “I get it now.”
Kwamena realized that trusting in God and stepping out in faith wasn’t about knowing all the answers in advance. It was about experiencing His goodness firsthand and discovering that He truly is faithful.
Psalm 34:8 invites us to taste and see God’s goodness, not just to believe it intellectually, but to experience it personally.
Just like Kwamena learned, we can’t fully understand how good God is until we step out in faith, trust Him with our lives, and take refuge in Him.
When we do, we discover that His goodness is far greater than we could have imagined.
May you taste and see the goodness of the Lord in every area of your life. May you trust Him in uncertainty, experience His faithfulness in your daily walk, and find refuge in His loving care. As you step out in faith, may you be blessed by the joy and peace that come from knowing Him personally.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 34:8
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise that You are good. Help me to not just know about Your goodness, but to experience it in my daily life. Teach me to trust You in every situation and to take refuge in Your care. Open my eyes to see Your blessings and to share Your goodness with others. In Jesus Name, Amen.
May you step out in faith, taste His goodness, and be blessed by His love!
