CONSOLATION DURING TRIBULATION

"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." - Nahum 1:7

So many people that I know are experiencing difficult times.  Some need employment.  Others have severed relationships that seem impossible to restore.  Many have physical problems that are severe --- and in some cases, terminal.  These are wonderful, God-fearing Christians.  They love Jesus and long to please Him.  In spite of what is taught by some televangelists, pain and problems do come to people of faith.

A popular televangelist was quoted as saying, "Your best years are ahead of you."  That is a trite statement that is lacking validity.  The truth is that pain and problems seem to intensify as we get older.  Certainly, eternity is looking brighter all the time for the Christian, but this life can get more difficult as time passes.  Perhaps the pain and struggles we face increase our desire for heaven.  We are not here on earth to stay.  Our affection should be on things above, not on the things of this world.  It is easy for us to consider this world to be our home, but that is a dangerous trap to fall into.  Pain tends to free us from that trap.

It may be that someone reading this message is going through the worst of times.  I offer no prophetic insight concerning your situation.  It may be that the pain you suffer will remain with you until you die.  It could be the terminal disease you've been diagnosed with will take you from this world very soon.  Perhaps the relationship you yearn to preserve will not survive.  I offer no false hope for your situation.  I do know that God is able to reverse the most impossible situation, if He so chooses. 

Instead of offering some stale, useless jargon, I want to point you to the Scripture.  In Nahum 1:7, the Bible says, "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."  I want you to dwell on this verse today.  Rather than dwelling on your situation, meditate on the Lord.  

Notice what Nahum wrote about God.  First of all, we learn that God is good.  God is good ... all the time.  The Bible does not tell us that life is always good.  Many times, life is not good.  Yet we can find comfort in the fact that God is always good.  He can be trusted during the most difficult times.  You can trust Him with your problems.  You can trust Him with your future.  In fact, you can trust Him with everything.

Secondly, we learn that God is a hiding place during trouble.  Our text refers to Him as a "strong hold in the day of trouble."  In Biblical times, a strong hold was a place of security, a place of safety during a battle.  We have a hiding place when trouble comes.  We are secure in Him.  You can confide in Christ.  You should abide in Christ.  You should hide in Christ.

Finally, we learn that God knows those who believe in Him.  Nahum wrote, "... he knoweth them that trust in him."  God knows the ones who belong to Him.  He knows you personally.  You are more than just a speck on the seashore of time.  The Lord knows you intimately.  You may feel all alone, dwelling far from your closest neighbor.  You may not receive many phone calls or Christmas cards.  You may be feeling very low.  Yet the Lord knows you.  In fact, He is there with you.  The One who loves you most is always by your side.  Your faith in Him is not in vain.  Your pain may seem unbearable.  Your plight may seem hopeless.  Your problems may seem overwhelming.  Yet God cares about you.  You are not going through these trials alone. 

Life is not easy.  Life is not fair.  But it is reassuring to know that God is with you.  He cares about you and your situation.  He is working in your life, making you more and more like Jesus.  One day, He will deliver you from this veil of tears.  What lies ahead is so glorious that words can hardly describe it.  Paul put it this way, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Dwell on the goodness of the Lord today.  He never disappoints those who trust in Him.