Tasting Life

We have annual festivals in many areas and oftentimes local restaurants will have a booth or set up a table offering tastes of their specialities. The owners of those restaurants and their Chefs hope that by tasting their food it will entice us to try more of their recipes. They invite us to come, taste and see for ourselves how good their food is. In Psalms 34:8 David said “O taste and see that the Lord is good…” He continues to express how he sought the Lord and was answered by Him, He delivered David from his fears. Click the scripture above to read it in full. 

Back to the discussion of an invitation to taste. Following a recipe and preparing a dish has some similarities to living a life. Some ingredients of a recipe on their own are not very tasty. Eating a spoonful of flour, baking soda, seasonings or shortening are not a good taste experience to say the least when eaten individually. However, when blended together in the right proportions and then baked or cooked it results in a delicious dish and one that is nourishing to our body. 

That is so often how the experiences of life and events we encounter are. Some of them are a hard pill to swallow on their own. They’re not pleasant and we don’t accept them eagerly and may wish it hadn’t happened. Life is not always a bowl of cherries and sometimes are more like the pits. What happens? When we face failures we seem to forget at the time about the successes. In sorrowful times we forget the many times of joy that we have had in life. We are focused on the sadness, the failures. When having financial difficulties we don’t remember the times we have prospered. When faced with sickness and a health crisis we often forget about the days and years when we experienced good health. Life is a blend of all of the ingredients. Bitter with the sweet is actually a good thing even though we may not want to admit it at the time we are experiencing the bitter. 

Let us consider a few points. Would we appreciate rest if we had never grown weary? Would we appreciate joy without experiencing sorrow? Without darkness would we appreciate the light? By the same token what would it mean to gain if we had never suffered losses? The experiences of life being blended is what makes it possible for us to enter a situation for ourselves and others sympathetically and helpfully. The experiences allow us to relate, understand and have compassion so as to reach out to help. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 speaks of God is the Father of all comfort and who comforts us in all of our afflictions so that we can comfort others with the same comfort that God has given us. Click the verse to read it entirely. 

Are you hurting, going through a difficult time? If so, take some time to sit quietly and look back over your life and see if perhaps this is an ingredient that isn’t very tasty right now but once blended with other more pleasant ingredients could be just the needed ingredient to make a delicious and tasty life down the road. Especially if this less tasteful time draws you ever closer to God. In Psalms 34:17 the Psalmist tells us how the Lord hears us and delivers us from our troubles. When we are brokenhearted and our spirits are crushed the Lord is close to us. We are to take refuge in the Lord. Perhaps we can pray together the prayer below. 

“Oh my God of all comfort, I often am overwhelmed by troubles, hurt and suffering. I sometimes forget the many gifts of goodness you have given me.  Give me the wisdom to see and accept the bitterness of life as it is blended with the sweet, beautiful blessings from You. Help me to trust in the truth of Your word and in Your promise that You will work all things ”for the good of those who love You”. Romans 8:28 I love you Lord, I am thankful for all you have done, are doing and will do in my life. I praise you for all. I pray these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”