There are periods within every trial and tribulation that weigh more heavily on us than other times. It can feel as though we’re trapped with nowhere to turn. This is a period that can really cause us to suffer emotionally and mentally, and the solution for times like this will always be to take our relationship with God to another level of intimacy. For many of us, it is when we have no one else to lean on that we find the face of God. His love, grace, and mercy are what we need to make it through. The extreme discomfort of troublesome situations can prompt us to look back on our pasts and recognize that we didn’t know God the way we thought. We heard those we admire in the faith testify of God’s goodness many times, but there’s nothing like knowing it for yourself.
Psalms 34:8 (NLT) tells us, “Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” It is so befitting that the psalmist used the sense of taste to paint this portrait of God’s goodness. Someone can describe the taste of something to you all day long, but nothing will do it justice until your tongue comes in contact with the food. Nothing will describe how something tastes more than the experience of actually tasting it for yourself. The psalmist, David, was well aware of this when he extended the invitation. He knew that there’s nothing that compares to knowing God intimately.
In Joshua 23:6, God warned His people to be careful to follow His Word and instructions. He told them not to deviate from it, and don’t turn to the left or to the right. This means that we should never seek anything or any person for the blessings that only God can give. If you and I are honest, we must admit that sometimes we do this. We look to things in the world to solve our problems. We think all we need is more money, a job promotion, recognition, or popularity; but none of these things will add one iota of joy to our lives if Christ is not the head of all that we are and do. He must be the foundation upon which we build our lives.
Heavenly Father gave His people further instruction in Joshua 23:8(NLT), and we all must follow it. Through Joshua, God told them, “Rather, cling tightly to the LORD your God as you have done until now.” We are to cling to the Lord always, especially in the middle of our troubles, trails, and tribulations. To cling is to hold so tightly that nothing can come between you and the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Refuge, and He invites us to taste and see that His goodness will never let us down. He will never leave or forsake us.
Psalms 34:8 says that those who take refuge in God will have joy. This joy comes from trusting that the Lord will cause us to triumph when defeat seems inevitable. Nothing is worth separating us from our faith in God and our love for all that He is; not past hurts, pain or heartache, financial problems or health challenges. As children of God, we are overcomers through Christ! We have the victory and as we continue to hold tightly to His love, our relationship with Him will deepen and our faith will grow stronger. He will receive the glory from the mountains that have seemed so hard for us to climb. He will cause us to triumph and it will warm our hearts to know that He did it all to show us His overwhelming love.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Hold Tight to God’s Love” written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2019. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.