Strength in Times of Trouble

“The Lord is good,

    a stronghold in the day of trouble;

he knows those who take refuge in him.”

Nahum 1:7 ESV

For reasons that I cannot explain, I ended up in this Old Testament book yesterday during my Bible study. I am not sure that I have ever cracked the pages of Nahum, so I had to dig into it. It is a short three chapters to read. Nahum was a minor prophet, but he was in a different circumstance that the other prophets. The other prophets were often grieving because they were telling their own people of God’s judgment and their need to repent and to turn back to God.

This verse tells us so much about the qualities of God. He is Good, He is a stronghold, and He knows those who find refuge in Him.

He is good:

For the Lord is good;

    his steadfast love endures forever,

    and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100:5 ESV

He is a stronghold in times of trouble:

God is our refuge and strength,

    a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1 ESV

He knows those who know Him:

for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

    but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1:6ESV

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

John 10:14 ESV

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

1 Corinthians 8:3 ESV

Times have definitely been different than any other time that we have seen in our lifetime. As we have seen throughout the Old Testament, it sometimes takes an act of God to put His people back on the right path.

The remedy, turn from our wicked ways, repent of our sins, and surrender our lives to God.

Stay safe out there!

Chaplain Howie