Taste and See

Pastor Kathy preached on Psalm 34 Saturday; in fact, she wrote her own blog about it this week. She talked a lot that night about God's goodness, and how he delivers you from fear and shame.

It was a pivotal night for me. Earlier that day, I’d been crying out in desperation to the Lord. Several people in my life have died in the past 2 years, including my father, my grandmother, and a friend of almost 20 years. A week ago, I found out another close friend is battling a life-threatening disease.

Although I was fighting for her in prayer and speaking life, I was having a faith crisis. It wasn’t that I didn’t have faith, but every time I prayed, all I saw were the faces of those who have died. Lying voices of guilt and responsibility had me completely twisted up inside. I was overwhelmed.

Pastor Kathy spent time on verse 8, which says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” I was struck with the realization that it felt like all I’d been “eating” for months was death—I desperately needed to experience that goodness!

I responded to the call for prayer; the effect was almost immediate. I began laughing in joy from the lightness of my heart. The heaviness of death was gone and I couldn’t stop smiling!

It wasn’t just a momentary feeling. Now when I pray for my friend or others, there is no fear or doubt, only great faith and expectation. The taste of death is gone! And when feelings of fear, etc. start to come, it’s like I can feel them bounce off the shield of protection God has raised up over me, and all I can do is laugh.

“I sought the LORD and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears” (Ps 34:4).