What does 1 Peter 2:3 mean?

The previous verse includes a command from God to Christians: crave "pure spiritual milk" as a newborn baby craves milk, so you can grow up in your salvation. This verse concludes that thought by referencing Psalm 34:8. Depending on the translation, the verse either starts with the word "if" or "since." Some choose "since," assuming that Peter's readers had indeed tasted that the Lord is good. Still, the word "if" encourages us to think about our answer to the question.

How have we tasted that the Lord is good? Have we received comfort and confidence in knowing that God has caused us to be born again into a living hope (1 Peter 1:3)? Have we experienced joy in believing in Him (1 Peter 1:8)? Have we found great purpose in the ability to set ourselves aside and give genuine love to each other (1 Peter 1:22)? Peter assumes those things to be true of his readers and of all Christians. Having tasted that the Lord is good should increase our appetite for Him. It should make us even hungrier for the Word of God.

Don't be confused, though. Peter is not suggesting that we "taste" the circumstances of the moment to see if the Lord is good. He has already written that his readers may be suffering greatly (1 Peter 1:6). In fact, we all suffer. We "taste" the goodness of the Lord in and through our suffering and in His promises that our suffering will end as we continue on with Him forever.