How to Be Transformed by God’s Goodness

In 1905, Good Housekeeping magazine began testing food products to give consumers confidence in what they were buying. Four years later, they created the Seal of Approval, a symbol that a product had passed rigorous standards. Eventually, the seal was applied not just to food, but to beauty products, cleaning supplies, and even household appliances. Now, more than a century later, the Seal of Good Housekeeping remains a sign of trust and quality. 

Even in today’s skeptical world, that seal still carries weight. Why? Because people long to know what is truly good.

Our Longing for Goodness 

We all want what’s good, don’t we? A good car, a good job, a good marriage, a good community. We want to cheer for a good football team. Deep down, it’s a longing for something far older than the Good Housekeeping seal. It’s a longing for the world described in Genesis 1:31: 

“God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” 

But where can we find this kind of goodness? Is it just a label stamped on by someone’s opinion? Or is there something deeper, something eternal, that defines goodness? How does true goodness shape my life as a follower of Jesus who finds my identity in Him? 

Psalm 34 is a song written by David after God delivered him from danger in enemy territory. In verses 8–10, David invites us to experience God’s goodness for ourselves: 

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” (Psalm 34:8–10, ESV) 

David calls us to take three actions if we want to truly value the goodness of God: taste it, trust it, and seek it.

1. Taste It (Psalm 34:8a)

David begins with an invitation: “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!” 

It’s a culinary metaphor. Think of a cook urging a reluctant eater: “Just give it a taste—you’ll see!” David is saying, “Try God. Experience Him. Don’t just take my word for it.” 

God’s goodness is not just a concept—it’s who He is. His goodness could be described by four of His attributes that are mentioned together in Psalm 103:8: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” 

• His mercy is goodness toward the guilty. 

• His grace is goodness toward those in need. 

• His patience is goodness toward the stubborn. 

• His love is goodness poured out in affection. 

This goodness never changes. James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. He cannot act outside His nature. 

When David says, “Taste and see,” he’s urging us to try Him for ourselves…to take the first step…to respond to that quiet nudge toward God. 

Have you tasted His goodness? Maybe your “taste” was accepting someone’s invitation and walking into church for the first time. Maybe it was the time you decided to trust something Jesus said instead of your own wisdom. That small “yes” to God’s prompting of your heart can open the door to discovering just how good He really is.

2. Trust It (Psalm 34:8b)

David continues: “Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” 

It’s not enough to sample God’s goodness. Like a free sample at the grocery store, it’s meant to draw you in to embrace the whole thing. To trust Him fully. 

Taking refuge in God means more than agreeing with the idea that He is good—it means acting on it. It’s shaping our lives around His promises, just like the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 who trusted God by taking action, following instructions, and embracing callings because they believed God was good. 

What was the result? They were blessed, which means happy, full, and satisfied. David himself had just been rescued from a deadly situation, and he declares, “Life with God as our refuge is the best life.” 

Have you moved from sampling to savoring? Have you progressed from a “once in a while” kind of trust to trusting Him as your daily source of wisdom and strength? Have you committed to aligning your values, priorities, and actions with His goodness? That’s where the blessing is found.

3. Seek It (Psalm 34:9–10)

Finally, David calls us to seek God’s goodness: 

“Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! ….those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” 

To fear the Lord is to live in awe of Him—to keep searching for His goodness in every situation. David contrasts this with lions—symbols of self-reliance and strength. Even lions go hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 

Where do we see God’s goodness most clearly? In Jesus. 

Titus 3:4-6 tells us that God’s goodness appeared when Jesus came to save us—not because we were righteous, but because of His mercy. In Christ, we receive forgiveness, renewal, and new life.  

When we seek Him, His goodness not only fills us but also transforms us. We begin to reflect His goodness in the way we live. 

Reflecting God’s Goodness 

This is where discipleship gets practical. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16: 

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” 

Our good works don’t earn God’s love—they reflect it. When we taste His goodness, trust His goodness, and seek His goodness, it overflows through us: 

• His mercy leads us to forgive. 

• His grace moves us to serve people experiencing poverty. 

• His patience helps us bear with others. 

• His love compels us to acts of kindness. 

One powerful example of this is the life of William Wilberforce, a British politician from the early 1800s. After coming to faith in Christ, he considered leaving politics for ministry. But he realized God had placed him in Parliament to fight injustice. His conviction of God’s goodness fueled his lifelong battle against the slave trade. Just days before his death, Parliament voted to abolish slavery in most of the British Empire. Wilberforce had both received and reflected the goodness of God. 

A disciple of Jesus is someone with a new identity in Him—someone who receives and reflects His goodness. 

Have you tasted the goodness of God? Have you moved beyond sampling to truly trusting Him? Are you seeking Him daily so His goodness overflows through your life? 

The invitation of Psalm 34 is simple: “Taste and see that the LORD is good!” 

When we do, we find that He is better than anything this world offers. We find that we lack no good thing. And we find joy in reflecting His goodness to others.