What Have You Been Chasing?

Have you ever had a moment when you realized how close you came to disaster—without even knowing it at the time?

I have.

Years ago, my husband Terry and I were driving home from Memphis, Tn to Salisbury, NC. It was a long trip and we were unaware that the exhaust pipe in his pickup truck was leaking. As carbon monoxide slowly filled the enclosed truck bed where I was resting, I became sick, confused, and barely responsive. As Terry stopped the car and tried to wake me, it was clear something was wrong. I ended up in the emergency room.

Looking back, I know the Lord protected us. If Terry hadn’t stopped when he did, the outcome could have been tragic. That experience taught me an important truth: sometimes danger creeps in quietly, while we think we’re just trying to make it through the day.

Psalm 34 was written in a moment like that.

David—strong and deeply faithful—was also afraid. He was running for his life, hunted by King Saul and trapped in enemy territory of King Abimelech. To survive, David pretended to be insane. After escaping, he hid in the cave of Adullam. (I Samuel 21:10-15)

In this cave, David paused to praise the Lord for saving his life. Gratitude and strength flowed from his heart and lips. Here he writes Psalm 34.

“I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1) “I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (v.4)

As women, we know fear well—fear for our children, our marriages, our health, our futures. Fear can make us anxious, exhausted, and overwhelmed. But David reminds us that courage doesn’t come from having it all together. It comes from seeking the Lord.

Then David gently invites us: “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good.” (v.8)

Faith isn’t just head knowledge—it’s personal experience. To “taste and see” means trusting God with our real lives, our real messes, and our real pain. When we step toward Him, even hesitantly, we discover His goodness for ourselves.

Psalm 34 closes with a promise many of us need to hear: “The LORD is near to the broken heartedand saves the crushed in spirit.” (v.18) If your heart is heavy today—if you’re carrying silent grief, unanswered prayers, or deep disappointment—God sees you. He is not distant. He is near. He holds the brokenhearted close and promises redemption to those who take refuge in Him.

So let me ask you, sister:

What have you been chasing this week—fear or faith? Will you keep running on your own strength, or will you pause and taste and see that the Lord is good?

Closing Prayer

Lord, You see me and every burden I carry. You know the fears that keep me awake at night and the pain I often hide behind a smile. Help me to stop running and turn toward You. Teach me to trust You in the cave, in the waiting, and in the unknown. Draw near to the brokenhearted, renew my strength, and remind me that I am never alone. Today, I choose to taste and see that You are good.

Amen.