True Blessings

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him. - Psalm 34:8 (NKJV) 


As a kid, I hated to see spinach on my plate. "Taste it and see; it's good for you!" my mother would say, to persuade me to eat it. At age eight, I saw no good coming out of a dollop of cooked spinach. I preferred to munch on a cookie instead. To stimulate my palate, Mom even made spinach balls with sweet rice and yogurt, and arranged them beautifully on my plate. Gladly, years later, I took a liking to spinach, and enjoyed its benefits. Today, it's my turn to coax my children to eat this vitamin-rich vegetable, while they in turn give me the look that I gave Mom years back.


The psalmist calls us to taste and see the goodness of God. But we are somewhat reluctant to heed His call. Like kids, we like to run around snacking on junk food, losing the appetite for the living bread. Unless it's presented with fun and excitement, some of us wouldn't want to touch it. For some, the "do's" and "don'ts" of religion have left a bitter taste. We no longer reach out for the bread. As a result, we become malnourished and deny ourselves the blessings of God.


David, the man after God's heart, faced life's challenges common to you and me. He knew the agony of losing a child, the terror of enemy attack, and the pain and guilt after committing sin. Yet, he remained unmoved in his trust in God. Amidst his troubles, David saw God's hand protecting, comforting, correcting, and guiding him. These are the blessings he saw when he said, "Blessed is the man who trusts in Him."