I have tasted the goodness of God.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good ….” (Psalms 34:8a)
Last Sunday (8/18), during the worship service at Victory Presbyterian Church, I was blessed as I listened to the Victory Choir praising God with the song "Good Good Father." In particular, I was deeply moved by the lyrics that proclaim that our good God is the One who leads our lives. I couldn’t help but say, “Amen!” So, as I began my sermon, I declared, “Everyone, our God is truly a good God!”
This morning (August 20, 2024), as I was preparing the sermon for our Tuesday family worship, the first half of Psalms 34:8 came to mind: “Taste and see that the Lord is good ....” This very verse was brought to my remembrance by the indwelling Holy Spirit about 28 years ago, during the wedding service my wife and I offered to God. At that time, I had met my beloved wife just about six months earlier, and as we stood there on our wedding day, memories of how we had come to that moment flashed through my mind like a video. Amidst those thoughts, the Holy Spirit enabled me to experience (taste) the goodness of God in a profound way. And so, in that moment, I couldn’t help but shed tears of gratitude.
At my beloved son Dillon’s wedding reception last Saturday, I became emotional during the mealtime prayer and shed tears. The next morning, on Sunday, as I sat in my church office, I reflected on those tears. What were they? They were none other than tears of gratitude. So, under the title "I Shed Tears of Gratitude," I wrote ten short reflections and shared them with dear ones here and there. I would like to share the second of those reflections with you: "I don’t know why I shed so many tears. Haha. Perhaps the reason I became emotional when thinking about Dillon is that, after our first baby, Charis, passed away in my arms, my beloved wife and I longed deeply for another child, but she was unable to conceive. Then, when we finally found out that she was pregnant with Dillon, we were overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. Through Dillon, we experienced God’s restoring love. And now, seeing that very child grow up and get married, my heart overflowed with gratitude, and I couldn’t help but shed tears." As I reminisced on this moment of tears of gratitude, the Holy Spirit allowed me to taste God's goodness in a special way over the past three days—Saturday through Monday. I would like to share with you three specific ways in which I experienced His goodness.
First, I tasted God’s goodness last Saturday (8/17) through a text message from my beloved eldest son, Dillon.
In particular, I experienced God’s goodness through Dillon’s words: "Dad, there may be things you think you did wrong in the past, but in my eyes, you have done truly good and faithful things for our family, and you continue to do so." What touched me the most was the phrase: "Dad, there may be things you think you did wrong in the past, but in my eyes ...." Through these words, I felt my son’s gracious love. Why did I see this as Dillon’s gracious love? Because I realized that not only had Dillon already forgiven me, but he also no longer remembered my mistakes. And yet, I had not forgiven myself. I was still holding onto the memories of the wrongs I had done to him.
Second, I tasted God’s goodness last Sunday (8/18) through a text message from my beloved niece, Sophie—the youngest daughter of my late cousin Christie, who is now with the Lord.
That afternoon, I sent a wedding photo of Dillon and Jessica to Christie’s five daughters. Kate, the third daughter, responded, “Aw, looks wonderful.” Sophie, the youngest, replied, “Loved an image” and then added, “So pretty.” Ella and Kara also responded with, “Loved an image.” So, I sent them this message: "Thanks, girls. Yesterday, a lady saw my wife and told her that Dillon looks so much like his mom. I was standing right next to my wife. Haha." Kara, the eldest, replied, “Laughed” and then added, “Sorry, Uncle James, I have to agree with the lady too,” along with two laughing emojis. Haha. Then I asked them, “How are you all?” Sophie responded, “We are doing good!” I replied, “Thanks, Sophie! Good.” Kara also responded, “We are doing good. Elise is getting over a sinus infection, and the girls start school tomorrow.” So, I texted Kara: "Oh no. I hope and pray that Elise gets well soon. If school starts tomorrow, then I can’t buy you lunch and dessert. It’s okay. Next time—before our Lord comes!" Haha. Kara responded with “Loved.” As I reflected on this conversation with my nieces, I noticed something that caught my attention. Of course, Kara had also responded with “We are doing good.” But for some reason, my heart and mind lingered a little longer on Sophie’s words: "We are doing good!" It seemed like both sisters had given the same response, but there was one difference. Sophie had added an exclamation mark (“!”). That exclamation mark was meant to emphasize something. When I saw it, I felt as though Sophie was sincerely reassuring her uncle that she was truly doing well. Then, I thought about how Sophie believes that her mother is now in heaven having a “wonderful time.” At that moment, I realized that Sophie’s faith was pure and unshaken—an untainted, childlike faith. And it reminded me of Hebrews 11:6: "And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
Third and last, I tasted God’s goodness was yesterday, on Monday, through an honest conversation and prayer with my beloved wife.
I am grateful that my wife approached me and openly shared her heart and feelings with me. Though I fell short in fully understanding, empathizing, and sharing in her emotions, the Holy Spirit—who dwells within us—was at work in both of our hearts. Because of this, we were able to have a heartfelt and genuine conversation, sharing our hearts with one another before the Lord. Afterward, we held each other tightly and cried out to God in prayer, weeping together. The Holy Spirit led me to sincerely seek my wife’s forgiveness for the deep guilt I had carried for so long over the ways I had wronged her. And that same Spirit worked in my wife’s heart, enabling her to forgive me. At last, after more than ten years, I have been set free from the burden of guilt. And I believe that the Holy Spirit has also brought healing to the wounds in my wife’s heart.
I would like to conclude this reflection. "Dear friends, our God is truly a good God!" We must taste and see the goodness of God. Especially in our lives with our beloved family, we must remember and cherish the moments when we have already experienced His goodness. When we do, we will be able to sincerely sing: "Good God, good God, my truly good God!" Therefore, may we all be those who give glory to God.