Taste and See

I wonder if anyone else out there is just overwhelmed with the goodness of our God? I can speak casually of his goodness all day long, some days with more oomph than others. Then there are times when I stand in slack-jawed amazement. Today is one of those days.

In case you are wondering, or even possibly getting a bit envious, no, everything in my life is not rosy. There is uncertainty, brokenness, busyness, and baggage. But no circumstance or measure of hardship--or maybe in your case, heartbreak--affects his goodness. Aren't you glad? It's certainly easier to believe at some times more than others. Did you know that more often than not (according to my very quick research) when a psalmist is declaring the goodness of God it is either preceded by or precedes a cry of distress or remembrance of hardship? Here are a few examples:

• Psalm 25
• vs. 8 - "Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way."
• vs. 16 - "Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted."
•  Psalm 34
• vs. 8 - "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"
• vs. 18 - "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
• Psalm 69
• vs. 16 - "Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me."
• vs. 17 - "Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me."
• Psalm 86
• vs. 5 - "For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you."
• vs. 1 - "Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy."
• Psalm 107
• vs. 1, 9 - "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!...For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things."
• vs. - "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble."

His goodness is our hope and our healing, our deliverance and our daily bread, our comfort, our sanity, our solid rock. And you better believe it is also our joy, our satisfaction, and a reason to sing.

I have been so abundantly blessed. (No thanks to me! "Every good and perfect gift is from above"-James 1:17) I have asked God for so many things--material, relational, spiritual--and he has gone above and beyond. But the joy is not in those things or people or opportunities, even though they are good things that do bring joy to my life. What brings me to my knees with my jaw on the floor and tears of gratitude stinging my eyes is my good God. 

I wonder if he has been good to you? I know he has, because you woke up this morning with breath in your lungs. And maybe in this season of life the fact that you lived to see another day is the only good thing you feel you can declare, because sometimes life is so painful and not good. But today, will you join me in declaring His goodness? Psalm 147:1 says, "Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting." I woke up today wanting to sing him a song. I'd love for us to sing together, but due to the screen between us that would be rather difficult. I would love for you to leave a comment, though. How has he been good to you? You can sing your comment to him if you'd like. After all, it is fitting.

"They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness."

Psalm 145:7