Taste and See God’s Goodness

A Reflection for Sunday, March 30 by Rebekah Bolin

Lectionary reading for 3/30/2025: Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Selected Passage for Reflection: Psalm 34:8

Read

Psalm 34:8

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusts in Him.” (NIV)

“Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is.  Blessed are you who run to him.” (The Message)

Reflect

A few years ago I took my mom to my favorite sushi restaurant.  It is hard to beat any restaurant in Japan as far as food perfection, but this one spot was an exception in the U.S.  When my mom took her first bite, she looked up into my eyes with the most serious expression and said, “This…is…the…BEST…food…I…have…EVER…had…in…my…ENTIRE…life!!!”  Her seriousness was accompanied by pure joy and delight.  I couldn’t help but laugh and feel my own sense of joy that someone else got to experience such goodness in real life.

The fourth Sunday in Lent is traditionally called “Laetare Sunday,” which means “rejoice.”  It is roughly the halfway point in Lent and it is an opportunity to pause and celebrate.  It is an intentional day to recognize God’s goodness in the midst of the hard season of Lent.

Many things in life are hard.  But God is always good.  Laetare Sunday reminds us to recognize this.  The Scripture reading for today also encourages us to experience this goodness first hand.  The words “taste and see” in Hebrew mean to test and to perceive.  In other words, to trial and to experience.  The psalm is encouraging people to personally test and experience God’s goodness for themselves, not just to talk about it in some lofty terms.  Just like when my mom tasted the best food of her life, God’s goodness ultimately brings pure joy and delight.  It is a comfort beyond explanation.  

The verse continues, blessed is the one who trusts in God.  May you trust in God’s goodness.  May God’s goodness shower you with joy and delight.  May you say, “God…is…SO…good,” with all seriousness, but with a deep joy that can only come from above.  

Respond

The Scripture verse above is action oriented.  It calls us to actively experience God’s goodness.  Think of something you can do today to bring you joy.  This can be as simple as listening to your favorite music, reading a book for 10 minutes, or taking a hot shower.  Or something like going for a walk, going to the movies, having dinner with loved ones, playing basketball, or going to a comedy show.  Anything that actively brings joy.  Take the time to intentionally do something joy-filled today.  In the midst of it, rejoice that God has provided this opportunity for you.  Continue to thank God for all the simple blessings and joys.  Rejoice on this Laetare Sunday!   

Rest

Dear God,

I thank you for your goodness!  Even when times are hard, you are still good.  I pray I can trust this goodness more and more each day.  May I recognize and experience your goodness on a daily basis.  I pray this goodness over my family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and community.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

About the Author

Rebekah Bolin

After growing up in Wisconsin, Rebekah graduated from Fuller Seminary and has lived in Los Angeles since 2006 (minus a year and a half of living on the Big Island of Hawaii). In 2018 she started and pastored a church in Downtown LA. The church has been on hold since covid, but the vision is still alive and well and she hopes to eventually start it back up. Until then she is out traveling as she works for a major U.S. airline. In her free  time, she loves to travel, hike, put together jigsaw puzzles, try new food, play soccer, laugh around the dinner table with family and friends, and enjoy the adventures of life the Lord takes her on.