In the book of Nahum, we encounter a striking portrayal of God’s holy justice and steadfast mercy. Long after Jonah’s warning, the people of Nineveh, once spared through repentance, had hardened their hearts in arrogance and sin. Through the prophet Nahum, God declares that His patience, though long, is not limitless. The mighty Assyrian empire, once a tool of terror, now faces divine judgment. Yet amid the thunder of His wrath, Nahum also reveals God’s tender heart: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who trust in Him.”

This passage reminds us that God’s character is perfectly balanced—jealous for His glory, just in His judgments, and merciful toward those who seek refuge in Him. His power can shake mountains and calm seas; His word can scatter nations or protect a single soul. Nahum invites us to reflect on both the severity and the sweetness of God, recognizing that the One who commands the storm also provides shelter from it.

For believers in Christ, the “day of trouble” becomes a day of safety, for our refuge is not in walls or weapons but in His unshakable goodness. When life feels uncertain and judgment seems near, this passage calls us to run—not from God, but to Him. In His holiness, there is justice; in His mercy, there is peace.

How can we lean into God’s justice and mercy in our daily lives? In what ways is He calling us to trust His unshakable goodness even amid life’s storms?