Closing June with Steady Hope in God’s Goodness - Your Nightly Prayer - June 29th

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Closing June with Steady Hope
Your Nightly Prayer
by Jennifer Slattery

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." - Nahum 1:7

SOMETHING TO PONDER

As we come to the end of June, you might find yourself reflecting on what felt uncertain, unfinished, or hard. What you hoped to experience or receive that didn’t unfold. As you consider your struggles, you might wonder—can I really trust God with this? Or maybe you’re anticipating a major change and need extra assurance, comfort, and strength. I’ve been there, and I imagine I’ll land in that place again, because sometimes life hurts or shakes our peace. In those moments, we might long for control or try to strategize ourselves to safety. But here’s a comforting truth. God is good, always. That will never change, which is great news for those who fear their inner wrestling, their “weakened” faith might frustrate Him or cause Him to pull away. Because His goodness isn’t dependent on us—our behavior, moods, or ability to follow Him perfectly. That’s simply who He is. Completely and eternally good.

This means He will never manipulate or strong-arm you. He’s not selfish or vindictive, and he never makes a promise he doesn’t keep. Scripture tells us He doesn’t respond to us as our sins deserve. Instead, He lavishes us with grace upon grace—more than we’ll ever need or could ever exhaust.

Nahum, the Old Testament prophet who wrote today’s passage, understood and relied on this truth during a time when many of God’s people feared they’d out-sinned God’s grace. For centuries, the Lord watched His people turn from Him to worship idols and engage in wicked, cruel, and horrific practices. He’d pleaded with them to return to Him, the One who loved them despite their rebellion. But they refused and experienced the consequences for their apostasy. But even then, there was grace. As another prophet who lived during this time wrote, in Lamentations 3:22-23,

“It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

He is our refuge. The place to which we can turn when everything around us feels chaotic. When our circumstances, or all the unknowns ahead, leave us weary and disoriented, He invites us to rest in His presence and find shelter in His love. I like to close my eyes and envision His love surrounding me like a shield. Perhaps try that tonight. Picture Him enfolding you in His firm yet gentle embrace. Because, as today’s verse states, He cares for you. He understands your emotional struggle, everything you're facing, and He’s assumed full responsibility for your welfare. May you trust in that truth, knowing you are not and never will be alone, defenseless, or abandoned.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Father,
Thank You for Your faithful and attentive care. Remind us of Your goodness, as revealed in Scripture, the sacrificial gift of Your Son, and as revealed in our lives. Remind us tonight of ways in which You have proven Your faithfulness to us over the years and help us to anticipate Your goodness tomorrow. May every flower, birdsong, moment of laughter, and precious moment with a friend remind us of all the blessings You so graciously bestow upon us, Your children.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

God’s faithfulness isn’t dependent on yours. He doesn’t ask you to reach some standard to become “worthy” of His care, nor does He ask you to earn His favor. If you’ve entrusted your salvation to Christ, you are favored because of your connection with Him.
God knows the heartaches you’ve experienced, the challenges before you, and every obstacle you’ll face tomorrow. Those things are more than facts to Him. They are important parts of your life in which He is intimately involved. Even now, He is orchestrating your present and your future to bring you to the hope-filled destination promised in Jeremiah 29:11. Because of His wisdom, love, and power, you’re never stuck.
The Lord invites you to find comfort in Him, and He never rescinds that invitation. So, turn to Him tonight. Tell Him how you feel and seek comfort in Him. Because, again, He is good, your refuge in whom you can trust.

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/grakozy

Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com.

She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.

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