Years ago my pastor-husband and I were invited to dinner by a refugee family who’d emigrated from Vietnam to our community. Our church had sponsored the couple and their children, helping them establish a new life. The dinner expressed their gratitude.
Not long after our arrival, the wife served us the first course, soup. To understand what happened next, you have to know I was pregnant at the time and just recovering from several months of nausea.
Try to imagine the roll of my stomach as I peered into the bowl to find, floating among the vegetables, a two-inch, whole squid. His gelatinous, limp body (never mind the tangle of tentacles) nearly had me lurching for the bathroom.
Not to eat it, of course, would be a terrible faux pax. I’ll just cut it into tiny bites, I thought, eat each piece with one of the crunchy vegetables and camouflage whatever the texture and flavor might be.
But my spoon couldn’t even make a dent in the squid and there was no knife. My stomach reeled again, just from the effort of trying to cut through the tough, rubbery cephalopod. Now what?
Just then the host explained, “It is tradition to give an honored guest a whole squid.” And he smiled expectantly. His eyes seemed to say, “Try it! You’ll like it!”
I had no choice. The squid must be eaten. And I couldn’t very well swallow it whole or I’d surely choke. While my stomach threatened revenge, I spooned it up, wrapped my reluctant lips around it, and began to chew. What a glorious relief to discover: squid tastes much like shrimp!
Now all these decades later squid swim in the mainstream of culinary fare—as calamari. If you haven’t ever ordered it, try it! You’ll like it!
One of the Old Testament prophets, Isaiah, spoke similar words to the people of Judah. Only he wasn’t offering them the goodness of a new food; he was offering them the goodness of God.
“Listen, listen to me,” Isaiah pleaded. “Eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare” (Isaiah 55:2 NIV).
And what might “the richest of fare” include?
God’s direction, peace, and forgiveness, compassion, wisdom, and benevolence—the expression of all his magnificent attributes. He is good in countless ways. But unless we “eat what is good” and experience God for ourselves, we never realize how wonderful he is and the countless spiritual delights he offers.
“Wait a minute,” someone will say. “Sure, it’s easy to celebrate God’s goodness when life is sweet. But where’s his goodness when trouble strikes?”
Meet Tudiose who spent ten years in a Romanian, Communist prison and work camp. He described them as the best years of his life because he never felt closer to God than during that time.[1]
Meet Jennifer whose hands and feet had to be amputated after a toxic infection. Even so her positive attitude persists. “I wouldn’t change it,” she declares. “I honestly feel there is a reason for it.” Part of that reason: Jennifer established the P.L.A.Y. Foundation to help young amputees. Her sense of humor also remains intact. She calls her prosthetic legs Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (famous dancers of the 1930s).[2]
Meet Paul, a doctor who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease at age 37. As his body betrayed him, Paul wrote meditations on God’s truth and lessons he was learning about suffering, including this statement: “Anything that God permits to happen to us in this life, whether good or bad, that better prepares us to meet him as we approach the threshold of eternity, can only be interpreted as grace on his part.”[3]
* * * * * * * * * *
Lord, I am put to shame by the testimonies of these saints and others. I can lose my joy over such inconsequential matters. Help me look for the richest of fare that you offer, those spiritual pleasures that enthrall and satisfy —no matter the circumstances.
[1] Kay Arthur, His Imprint, My Expression, 137.
[2] Karol Ladd, Thrive, Don’t Simply Survive, 23-24.
[3] Ladd, 71-72.
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From the Inside Out 
Beautiful message of faith & hope.
Blessings!
Thank you Loralu!
Thank you for sharing these testimonies. Makes the things I have been wailing about seem rather trivial.
Me too, Shauna. These saints and others help put my “druthers” in perspective!
I’m relieved for you that the squid wasn’t that bad! Sometimes life’s surprises are pleasant, sometimes not, but you’re right, we have to look at all of them as coming from God, or at least with His permission. With the right (divine) perspective, we can learn a lot.
It’s amazing how divine perspective can change our attitude!
Amen, Nancy! We should not look at bad times or circumstances as punishments, but as the opportunity to trust more in God and have faith that He is working all things to good for those who love Him.
Blessings!
There is so much comfort in Romans 8:28! Thank you for adding its truth to the conversation, Martha. You brought to mind a statement from a devotional book which I copied in one of my journals: “There is always good because there is always God . . . even when nothing else around us is good. His presence in the midst of our deepest pain is a good gift indeed.” Isn’t that uplifting?
When we were missionaries in the Philippines I was not ready for the special dish they made for us – they served fish – the entire fish – we were told the head and the eyes were the best part. I did not find it tasty – but to refuse to eat would have been an insult. Thank you for these testimonies that encourage.
I would find it hard to eat the head and eyes too, Barb!! So glad you found encouragement as I did from the testimonies of Tudiose, Jennifer, and Paul.
Nancy, thank you for sharing amazing and encouraging testimonies of God’s grace. “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8
Praise God for his grace (which encompasses many of his attributes) that sees us through EVERY situation of life. Hallelujah! P.S. I almost included Psalm 34:8 in this post, Pam!
The goodness of the Lord was on my heart as I read your post. The experiences of living outside our comfort zone were trying times but produce the fruits of the Spirit in us. . It’s a choice always from the get go at salvation till we go home to be with Him. I would not trade anything for the things God has taught us living in two foreign countries. Those out of comfort zone times are to be expected when God starts us on our journey with Him and they happen where ever He plants us. Great post.
Thank you, Betty, for adding your testimony from the mission field. The lessons learned and the marked nearness of God during challenging times are just two of the blessings that prompt us to say, “I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything!”
Very inspiring stories, Nancy. It has reminded me that when I am challenged by circumstances in life I should excitedly, expectantly, and joyfully watch and wait to see how God will bring good out of it. It requires much prayer and time in the Word which ‘the richest of fare’.
Amen to excitement and expectancy as we look forward to the good God will ALWAYS accomplish! And isn’t it wonderful that, no matter how much time we spend learning about and meditating on God’s Word, we never reach the end of its riches and encouragement? It’s a glorious blessing!
I think of the book The Hiding Place and the faith of Corrie Ten Boom and her sister, that one helps bring me humbleness if I’m in a pity party.
Oh and by the way, I had calamari in Florida last year at a fancy restaurant and I was not impressed…my mom, friends and I all agreed that the way they’d prepared it made it literally look and chew like white rubber bands!!!😅…it did leave us with an unforgettable experience that makes us laugh when we reflect back!
Sounds like they overcooked that calamari, Alicia. As for Corrie ten Boom–oh yes! She left us all a rich legacy of faith, strength, and perseverance, didn’t she? I loved The Hiding Place–it was an important influence in my young adult years when the book was first published. Some of her stories still come to mind all these years later, and they still encourage me.
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for sharing such inspiring testimonies of God’s sufficient grace, Nancy. “Help me look for the richest of fare that you offer, those spiritual pleasures that enthrall and satisfy —no matter the circumstances.” AMEN! Love and blessings to you!
Thank you, Trudy. So glad you found inspiration (as I did) in the testimonies of Tudiose, Jennifer, and Paul!
Wow what inspiration to read today. Love the squid story! Made me smile and swallow a bit too. LOL
Thank you, Jean. Glad you enjoyed the squid story–and found inspiration here. Praise God!
Ah calamari… now you’ve made me hungry, Nancy!! I love the analogy though of “try it, you’ll like it!” The words of the Psalmist still ring true today: Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is always good, all the time. Even when we don’t understand. The examples you used made me think of my 23-year old granddaughter with MS. Often her optimism and joy put me to shame. And remind me that I need to keep tasting and seeing the Lord’s goodness. Thank God for such inspiring people!
You’re welcome, Sheila! Yes, you WOULD appreciate calamari, living in Italy all these years! Praise God for the joy and optimism he’s given your granddaughter. No doubt she provides a powerful testimony of God’s grace and goodness to those around her, because of her positive outlook.
Nancy,
What a wonderful attitude that these folks possess. That is faith well place.
In Christ,
Gary
They do indeed provide stellar examples for us to follow!
I love Paul’s statement about all earthly experiences – good or bad – preparing us to meet our Maker someday. That’s a powerful way to accept all we deal with in this life. Also, great analogy by you, from squid in soup to swallowing the word of God. Our pastor often takes a similar approach, starting out with an interesting story to draw us in; then shifting to the sermon’s real lesson. Makes it so much easier to relate to the message!
Thank you, Dave. I too greatly appreciate the heavenly perspective of Tudiose, Jennifer, and Paul. I have NO cause to complain!