Several years ago I was attending a women’s retreat at a camp with a group of ladies from my church. I had been struggling with some very difficult challenges in that particular season of life. I had been asking God to help me settle a few things in my heart.
One thing I asked Him was if what was happening in my life was a result of my own actions and choices or just part of life. I had read the story about the blind man that Jesus healed and how the people had asked whose sin had caused the man’s blindness, his own or his parents. Jesus had responded by saying that neither of those reasons was the cause but the man had been born blind so that God’s glory would be revealed. God has His own reasons for allowing things to happen in our lives.
When we consider all of God’s attributes we should know that He will never fail us and will take care of us. But sometimes the challenges of life seem to overpower what we know to be true.
On that first day of the retreat, when we were registering and receiving our study materials for the sessions, one of the items we were told to take was a small journal. All of the journals were displayed on a table and each cover had a picture. We were told to prayerfully consider which cover spoke to us. As I stood there looking at all the covers, one suddenly drew me like none of the others. As I looked at the picture of a partially eaten apple, I heard the Lord speak gently to my heart. “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” It was exactly what I needed. To know that God was good. To know that no matter what, that was a sure thing. God was challenging me to take Him at His word. I chose to do so.
Today, I still have that journal and Psalm 34, which contains the verse God spoke to my heart, has become my favorite Psalm. If you are struggling with something in your life and just need a little encouragement, ask God to give you what you need. He never disappoints.
Here is a link to a video by Shane and Shane called, “Psalm 34.” Enjoy!
” Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” – Psalm 34:8 (NIV)