GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. (‭Nahum‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ESV)

As I was reading the morning paper I was struck by how awful and evil the world is today. 3 people found stabbed in Victorville. Man found guilty of hit and run murder. Fighting in the Ukraine and in Gaza. The list goes on and on of how utterly wicked people are and can be.

The Book of Nahum is a Book that also describes the world in a very dark place. God-less-ness was rampant. War was prevalent. Lives were being lost - even babies.

Then, in the midst of this darkness God speaks and declares "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble..."

One of God’s faithful missionaries, Allen Gardiner, experienced many physical difficulties and hardships throughout his service to the Savior. Despite his troubles, he said, "While God gives me strength, failure will not daunt me." In 1851, at the age of 57, he died of disease and starvation while serving on Picton Island at the southern tip of South America. When his body was found, his diary lay nearby. It bore the record of hunger, thirst, wounds, and loneliness. The last entry in his little book showed the struggle of his shaking hand as he tried to write legibly. It read, "I am overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of God." Allen Gardiner.

Can you say - "GOD IS GOOD?"

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (‭Psalm‬ ‭100‬:‭5‬ ESV)

You might say, "Well, how is God good?" Have you thought about some of the blessings you have right now?

- The gift of grace and your salvation

- The blessing of living in a free country

- The blessing of being a part of this church

- The blessing of free choice in your lives

Satan tries to cripple our witness and productivity in the work of God by attempting to get us to doubt God’s goodness.

How often do we stop from our busy schedules and take time to just praise God for His goodness?

Nahum reminds us that "God is good and a stronghold in times of trouble."

A little boy is telling his grandma how "everything" in his life is going wrong. He’s telling his grandma about his problems with school, family & friends, etc. Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which of course he does. "Here, have some cooking oil," grandma offers. "Yuck" says the boy. "How about a couple raw eggs?" Grandma asks him. "That’s gross, Grandma!" he says. "Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Grandma, those things are all yucky!" the boy says. To which Grandma replies: "Yes, all these things seem bad by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But as we trust in Him despite the circumstances, Eventually, together all things will make something wonderful!"

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Hebrews 13:5 which tells us that God will never leave us or forsake us.

Every day this world around us changes. Sometimes for the good. Sometimes for the bad. But we serve an unchanging God that loves us and embraces us in all times. 

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. (‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31‬:‭3‬ ESV)

God knows all about you. He knows our every weakness and yet He still loves us. He knows our every strength and yet He still wants to use us.

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He’ll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

As you go through this day - remind yourself again and again...The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. (‭Nahum‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ESV)