Where is God when the Storm Rages? (Nahum 1:7)
A Verse, A Comment, A Prayer, A Blessing (3/18/2025)
A Verse
Nahum 1:7
“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.”
A Comment
Nahum 1:7 appears in the middle of a prophecy of judgment.1 The chapter is filled with images of God’s wrath: mountains quaking, rivers drying up, and enemies crumbling before Him. Yet, in this storm, we find a refuge: “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.”
It is easy to say that God is good when life is peaceful. But what about when the walls cave in? When trouble comes, our circumstances often shape what we believe about God. Yet Nahum reminds us that God’s goodness is not dependent on our comfort. He remains good in both abundance and loss (Philippians 4:12-13). The real question is not whether He is good but whether we will trust Him when everything else shakes.
Nahum calls the LORD a stronghold. A stronghold is not a resort for the comfortable. It is a place of protection in battle. It assumes conflict and danger. God never promises that we will not face trouble. Instead, He promises to be our refuge when trouble comes. And not only that, He knows us. This is not mere awareness but deep, personal, loving knowledge. He sees our fears, struggles, and quiet prayers in the dark. He knows those who trust in Him, and He holds them fast.
As the story of God’s goodness progresses, we learn that the ultimate stronghold is found in Jesus Christ. For He is the fullness of God’s goodness revealed. He is the rock that stands firm when the world crumbles. On the cross, He absorbed the judgment of God so that we who trust in Him would never face it ourselves. To run to Christ is to be hidden in Him, safe from sin’s condemnation, held fast in the love of the Father (Colossians 3:1-4).
This refuge is not just protection; it is personal. “He knows those who take refuge in Him.” Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. I know My own, and My own know Me” (John 10:14). To know and be known by Christ is to possess eternal life (John 17:1-5). The same Lord who bore our sins now intercedes for us, guiding us through the storms (Hebrews 7:25). No trouble is beyond His reach, and no suffering goes unseen.
So whether today brings calm or crisis, whether sunny skies or storm clouds greet you, the truth remains. The LORD is good. He is a stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows those who belong to Him, not just when the sun shines but also in the storm. Take refuge in Him and rest in the stronghold of His care.
A Prayer
Father, when the storms come, remind us that our refuge is in You. Thank You, Jesus, for taking on Yourself the full weight of the judgment due our sin so that we could find shelter in You. Teach our hearts to rest in Your finished work, knowing that we are secure in You, our stronghold. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Blessing
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)