God knows those who trust Him (Nahum 1:7)

Glory be to God..!!!

God knows those who trust Him

"The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him." Nahum 1:7

Our God, Jehovah, is good to us. But we need to taste that God is good. For that, we ought to take refuge in God only then we'll experience that God is good (Psalm 34:8). As we read above, the best time for this is during the days of our trouble, in those situations God is our refuge. God himself says that when we call upon our God in the time of trouble, He will deliver us (Psalm 50:15). But isn’t it true that often in our troubles we are unable to trust our God nor take refuge in Him? We must clearly understand why we are unable to trust in God, who is our refuge in the day of trouble. The first reason is that because we trust in man and maketh flesh our arm, thereby we are actually departing away from our God in our hearts (Jeremiah 17:5). This will happen in our lives in two ways. First, because we trust in men. When we have a difficult situation, we will have the thought that who will help us. Even though Jesus is with us, like Martha, we are careful and troubled about many things (Luke 10:40-41) therefore we rely on men and princes to help us. We may be the ones who pray and tell others to pray. However, our mind is worried and burdened with thoughts so that we are unable to pray to God or trust in God wholeheartedly. That is why we run to men for help. When we say that the Lord is on our side, in reality the Lord is on our side with those who help us (Psalm 118:6-7). But it will not be the individuals whom we trust, but they are the individuals whom God raises up to help us. Without understanding this thinking the men whom we trust will help us thereby in truth we cannot experience the help from God. Moreover, we become cursed ones because our hearts depart from the Lord (Jeremiah 17:5). Therefore, our problems will be increasing, instead of decreasing. Thereby we end up in much troubles.

Secondly, we rely and trust on our own strength and wisdom, making the flesh our arm. With our own effort we desire to be delivered therefore we labour hard. But we will not be saved by our own arm (Psalm 44:3). The wicked ones are those who forget God because of the snare in the work of their own hands (Psalm 9:16-17). God will bring down the pride together with the spoils of their hand of those who makes the flesh their arm (Isaiah 25:11). Therefore, we should not rely on our own understanding but trust in the Lord with all our heart (Proverbs 3:5). Therefore, we should not trust in men, nor in our own ability and work. Instead, we should trust only in the Lord our God (Jeremiah 17:7). We should carefully consider the following things to see how it is possible for us.

In fact, we cannot trust on God because our minds are careful and troubled about many things (Luke 10:41). Only when our minds are stayed on God it is possible to trust on our God. God will keep such ones in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).Therefore, only when we gird up the loins of our minds we can have complete hope on our God thereby we can able to trust our God (1 Peter 1:13). Only when we return and trust our God and pray by keeping our minds at rest and quietness then will we receive salvation or deliverance. In quietness and in confidence shall be our strength (Isaiah 30:15). We should understand that God will not give us rest only after we trust on God. Therefore, we must have rest at first before we trust on God. Only those whose minds are stayed on God can trust in God. To such ones God will give perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). For this, there are some things that we need to understand.

At first, nothing happens in our lives unless the Lord commands it (Lamentations 3:37). The devil was able to bring evil to Job only after God allowed Satan to do so (Job 1:11-12, 2:5-6). Stormy wind raiseth at the Lord’s command thereby troubles and oppressions comes (Psalm 107:25). Who can turn God from what His soul desireth and performeth the thing that He appointed (Job 23:13). There is no one who can deliver from His hand or turn His work (Isaiah 43:13). Therefore, we should be prepared to accept it with joy. Moreover, in none of these things we should not charge God foolishly thereby commit sin against Him (Job 1:22, 2:10). Secondly, we should not think that the fiery trials that come upon us are something strange (1 Peter 4:12). Because our God is faithful, God will not suffer people to be tempted above what they are able. Rather, God will allow them to suffer according to their ability. Nothing will ever happen to us more than we cannot bear. Moreover, our God will make a way of escape with the temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Therefore, let it happen for us to count it blessed to endure the temptation (James 1:12).

Thirdly, we are always ready to receive good from God. But the evil which our God gives us sometimes only we are hesistant to receive and seems like fools (Job 2:10).Therefore we should be ready to experience not only good but also evil. We should know to practice and to be in content in the state of being abased and abound as well to experience prosperity and to suffer need (Philippians 4:12). But whether tribulation, or distress or famine or nakedness, or peril or sword, whatever comes, we should be those who joyfully accept it and live without being separated from the love of God by giving glory to God (Romans 8:35). As the Sadhu Kochukunju sang, when the Lord gives us the cup of sorrow, we should be those who joyfully take it and sing Hallelujah. Fourthly, we should know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). We should be confidence in the belief that the beginning may be bitter, but the end will be sweet and peaceful (Isaiah 38:17). Although Job’s sufferings were bitter to him at first, later it became the source for him to receive double fold blessings (Job 42:10). Though brothers did evil to Joseph, but later God turned it into good (Genesis 50:20). In the incident of Shimei cursing David, David said that the Lord will bless him instead of curse (2 Samuel 16:12). Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyful but grievous. But later it becomes a blessing for those who have been exercised by it (Hebrews 12:11). Therefore, let us clearly realize that our God will never harm us. Fifthly, when God leads us through a trial, for sure God who is faithful will always make a way of escape otherwise He prepares a way of deliverance from it (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must know and trust in God steadily, knowing that there is solution to our troubles. Truly, it is in our troubles that our God becomes our refuge.

Without any trouble in heart as those being at rest with steady mind when we trust our God then He will be our strength (Isaiah 30:15). Which means when we trust our God in this way, our strength is that God knows those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7). In other words, God knows our needs before we ask (Matthew 6:8). Because God is our heavenly Father, who knows all the needs of His children (Matthew 6:32). Moreover, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to His power (Ephesians 3:20). The eyes of the Lord is looking us to show Himself strong  on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9). The mighty God will do great things for us (Luke 1:49). Therefore, the God who hears our prayers will restore our situation and help us doubly (Job 42:10). So that we will become those who forget the misery which we suffered (Job 11:16). May the Lord God help us and let it happen for us to be those who have complete peace.