by James Porch
“Nahum.” As a newly recognized presence in my great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 11:1), please excuse me for neglecting your message before now.
Wow, I feel better!
As usual with me, a story precedes a confession. Last week rumbling again through my Mama’s stuff (she died in 1997), I happened upon a printed sermon—a Norman Vincent Peale (late pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City) homily. Reading toward the printed manuscript, I sensed a growing tug by the text, “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him” (Nahum 1:7 KJV).
I quickly reacted to a flood of questions, including where, why, and how did Mama find that sermon? These and more unresolved questions prompted me to remember events in her life around the date of the sermon’s publication, a season in her days offering very little nurture for hope. I, her only child, lived 400 miles away, two sisters who lived nearby were experiencing serious health challenges meriting her attention, and vocationally Mama had begun transitioning from hospital nursing to a nursing home ministry. And, as she commented, “I have spent my life helping folk regain health, now I seem to be assisting folks preparing to die.” Most stressful, she lived day by day in an abusive second marriage, (my Dad died in 1960) yet determined to keep her marital vows. Overall, loneliness assuredly overshadowed her days.
Repeatedly turning over the pamphlet in my hands, viewing her underlining, written notes, and the worn appearance of the pages I found, I believe, her “why.” There in the biblical text and commentary, I realize she had discovered a gem of hope through the great surprising work of the living God.
In her lineage, I glean a hope for hope in the ’09 season of economic distress.
Nahum the prophet emphatically wrote, “He [God] knows those who trust in him.” This direct message, prior to the fall of Nineveh, must have awakened his initial audience to a blatant reality—our Father God’s relation with us includes reciprocal trust. Simply, in addition to my trust in Him, His grace extends to His attention toward knowing who of His family abides intentionally in trust in Him.
Eureka!
My trust in the Father matters to Him!! He acts toward me on no assumption, must less presumption!!! I am in His mind of minds!!!! (Psalm 8). Oh, to live in the awareness of Almighty God as revealed in Jesus Christ to the extent He cares for my trust in Him.
Hallelujah!
Thanks, Nahum, for hearing the Father.
