Air1's Verse of the Day for Aug 15, 2024

When You Wonder If God Cares

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.

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When You Wonder If God Cares

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And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Be still in the presence of the Lord , and wait patiently for Him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

All of Your works will thank You, LORD, and Your faithful followers will praise You.

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

Then Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

The LORD Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.

Lord , there is no one like You! For You are great, and Your name is full of power.

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

And the church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with Himself.

So it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”

Give thanks to Him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying.

And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

I took my troubles to the Lord ; I cried out to Him, and He answered my prayer.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful.

Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O Lord , do not abandon those who search for You.

Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near.

Christ is also the head of the church, which is His body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything.

God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says, and He has invited you into partnership with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again— my Savior and my God!

I will praise You, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things You have done.

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

“Everyone who acknowledges Me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven.

For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.

For He will conceal me there when troubles come; He will hide me in His sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

O God, we give glory to You all day long and constantly praise Your name.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

Sing to the LORD; praise His name. Each day proclaim the good news that He saves.

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How kind the LORD is! How good He is! So merciful, this God of ours!

From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine."

I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.

All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; He alone is God. Amen.

But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore— the LORD above is mightier than these!

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.

Give to the LORD the glory He deserves! Bring your offering and come into His presence. Worship the LORD in all His holy splendor.

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.

For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like You, who works for those who wait for Him!

I cling to You; Your strong right hand holds me securely.

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread Your protection over them, that all who love Your name may be filled with joy.

And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty. ”

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heaven!

Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout His praise!

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Praise Him for His mighty works; praise His unequaled greatness!

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way.

For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Love means doing what God has commanded us, and He has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.