Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
I remember asking myself a question. "Does God even care about my situation? I've been depressed for months and months, and this depression is getting worse every day.” I was waiting on the Lord to show up. Reading the Bible. I'm praying. I'm going to church. I'm like, "God, I don't sense You. I don't feel You. I honestly feel like You don't care about me."
In our text today in Nahum chapter 1 and verse 7, this is a very comforting text. This is what it says: The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him.
Understanding the Context
Let me give us some context so we can understand the content of what's going on here. The Book of Nahum is a prophecy of judgment against Nineveh and God's people, Judah. They're being mistreated, and they're waiting for help. Nineveh has rebelled. They've rejected God. What God does is He sends the prophet Nahum to comfort the people of God. In fact, the word Nahum means comfort.
The Lord Is Good
This is what he says. He says in the midst of the chaos, the rebellion, all the crazy stuff that's going on around him, he says this: "The Lord is good." No matter what's going on in our world right now, no matter what's going on in your world, whether it's your family or maybe you have friends that are going through a tough season and you're praying for them for that breakthrough, one thing you and I can rest in is that the Lord is good.
Our world will continue to change. In fact, our world will probably get darker. The darker things get, the more we need to remind ourselves of this truth. God's not going to change. It says the Lord is good.
A Strong Refuge When Trouble Comes
Then it says a strong refuge when trouble comes. When trouble comes, what is your place of safety? That's what a refuge is. Where do you turn to for comfort? We sing that song "You Are My Hiding Place," and we sing that because we know the Lord is our hiding place. We can take our pain to the Lord no matter what we're facing.
I have a place to take my pain. If you're not a believer, I don't expect my nonbeliever friends to take their pain to the Lord. They do what they do. They turn to the bottle, they have their stuff that they turn to. For us believers, our refuge is the Lord. He's not only a refuge, it says a strong refuge when trouble comes. Where will we turn to when trouble comes? It’s to the Lord.
Confidence Through the Trial
Then He ends. He says He's close to those who trust in Him. I don't know about you, when I know my Heavenly Father's with me, it gives me confidence to go through the trial. I want to remind us the promise that you and I have as Christians. It's not that we're going to live this life pain free. It's not pain free. It's not a life of ease, but it's a life knowing that we have a God that goes before us.
