Taste and See that the Lord is Good!

Taste and See that the Lord is Good.  Doesn't that sound great?  However, the subtitle may also be, "He is a very present help in times of trouble."

Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). The truth is that we all go through battles.  David in Psalm 86 cries out to God to preserve his life, yet not without hope, declaring that "You are my God."  He reminds himself with this bedrock line, "For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon you."

Yet there are times when we stand in the battle, wondering if and how He is going to come through. In our minds we know He is infinite and faithful, so the challenge is to trust that victory to our situation. He is a very present help in times of trouble.  I compare this to how the disciples must have felt between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, sort of a mental and emotional roller coaster challenge to believe when things look lost.  As we know, in desperate situations, David encouraged himself in the Lord.  

Draw near to God with thanksgiving and fresh consecration.  Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  This is a time to hold on to some of the powerful Scriptural promises. For example, Psalm 34:19 states that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.  Revelation 12:11 "They overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives even to death."  Or how about 1 Peter 5:10-11, "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."  

Clearly, as the song "Waymaker" reminds us, "even when I don't feel it, You are working."  My point is that during the battle is not the time to doubt or quit standing on God's promises, but rather to choose to fight the good fight by speaking the Word, and trusting God to confirm it.  Nothing (or no one, especially the devil) has a right to steal your joy.  Run for the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24)  What is the prize?  Giving glory to God (He is worthy).  Abraham chose to glorify God until he tasted the goodness of the Lord.  Every attack is an opportunity to be thankful that Jesus has overcome, and by our faith we overcome the world (1 John 5:4).  All things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  

With Jesus in the battle, we taste and see that the Lord is good.  The Holy Spirit is here to always lead us in triumph.  So lets just receive the Romans 15:13 promise, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  In the name of Jesus, and by the power of the resurrection, may you experience His overcoming peace, joy, and victory.  Jesus reveals that "as the Father loves Me, so do I love you."  His love overcomes all.  He is with you and for you.