The Lord Is Good - Maynard Force

Devotional Messages

The Lord Is Good

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

The above scripture divides itself into three parts and each part contains a blessing.

FEELINGS OR FAITH

“The Lord is good.” This truth Satan hates. He, therefore, tries to interrupt the events in our life to make us believe otherwise. When testing, sorrow, discouragement or death comes our way, we are prone to doubt that “the Lord is good.” Our feelings at that time are often contrary to this Word. Satan has the ability to work on our feelings and set them against God. A child of God, however, has learned that when feelings and the Word of God do not harmonize, he must pray for grace to disregard the feelings and cling only to the Word. James admonishes, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (James 4:7, 8). In due time our feelings and God’s Word will harmonize again.

The Lord has always been good to us. We have not always acknowledged it, but the fact still remains. Can you think of one time in your life when the Lord was not good? It is true there may be times when it seems that He has not been good, but when we feel that way we have misunderstood Him. He Himself has said, “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer.29:11). This promise should settle any doubt in our mind as to the Lord’s relationship to us.

The Lord lets nothing happen to His people but that which is for their good. “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). There come times in our lives when such a promise is hard to understand, but remember that the righteous must live by faith. We are not asked to understand everything, but we are asked to accept even what we do not understand by faith. Only then will be appreciate that “the Lord is good.”

WHEN TROUBLE COMES

The Lord is also “a stronghold in the day of trouble.” The day of trouble cannot be avoided for “man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). God has not promised to steer our lives around trouble, but He has promised to give us strength to be victorious in it.

Trouble can take most any form. It can be mental, physical or spiritual. At times its cause can spring from a very insignificant source, and then again, it can come from some sudden tragedy that can shake us like an earthquake. Regardless of the cause of
our trouble we have the promise—”I will be with him in trouble” (Ps. 91:15).

The Lord is very near us in the day of trouble. We do not always sense His presence but He is there just the same. The Word of God tells us “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). Had it said He is a help in time of trouble that would have been wonderful, but the promise assures us He is “a very present help.” He stands so close to us that He is ready to solve our problems.

The Lord is equipped to handle our case right now! Our verse tells us He is “a stronghold,” but a stronghold is no good unless we seek safety there. I do not know why it is but often when the day of trouble comes, we forget about our stronghold. We become so occupied with our trouble that we see nothing else. We forget that “the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their refuge in the time of trouble” (Ps. 37:39). David, the king, who knew what it was to go through bitter testings, said about the Lord: “Thou art a hiding place for me, thou preservest me from trouble; thou dost encompass me with deliverance” (Ps. 32:7). This is the language of all who turn to the Lord in the day of trouble. The invitation stands—”Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify me” (Ps. 50:15).

HIS WONDERFUL ANSWER

The Lord “knows those who take refuge in him.” it is good to have a friend who is interested in us in the day of testing. Perhaps there is no time when we appreciate our friends more. It is at such a time that words of kindness and deeds of love have a way of touching our most tender heartstrings. “Let not your heart be troubled,” said Jesus, the best of all friends, “believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1).

In the day of trouble we are prone to feel our Lord has forgotten us. Especially do such thoughts come if the day of trouble is prolonged or if trouble is added to trouble. In such critical moments, it would be well if we would pray for grace to take refuge in God’s Word and the Word alone. The Word assures us that our Lord “knows those who take refuge in him.” The psalm writer, knowing this secret, wrote: “In the day of my trouble I call on thee; for thou dost answer me” (Ps. 86:7).

Then relax, dear troubled friend, for your appeal has reached the highest authority and your problems will be solved in due time. Remember—”It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lam. 3 :26). Cling to the promise—”as your days, so shall your strength be . . .“—“The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33 :25, 27).

Jehovah wants to reveal Himself to you so that you can say from experience that “The Lord is good; a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.” Don’t be satisfied until you know Him thus!