The Who

Last month we spent some time with Joseph and resolved, in the face of disappointment or despair to ask: how will God redeem this for my good and His glory? But, what do we do in the meantime? What about the time between when we resolve to look for what God will do and the mess or heartbreak where we currently find ourselves? What then? 

“If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath. Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time.”

Psalms 34:18-19 MSG

When you can’t see what God is doing, focus instead on who He is.

In the Old Testament book of Exodus, God revealed himself to Moses: 

“The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness…”

Exodus 34:6 NET

God is both compassionate and gracious. Psalms 28:7-9 offers the illustration of God as a shepherd who carries us in his arms at all times. 

“The Lord strengthens and protects me; I trust in him with all my heart. I am rescued and my heart is full of joy; I will sing to him in gratitude. The Lord strengthens his people; he protects and delivers his chosen king. Deliver your people! Empower the nation that belongs to you! Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms at all times!”

Psalms 28:7-9 NET

Gracious is from the Hebrew word KHANUN, which is an adjective. The noun form is KHEN and means delightful or favorable in the Old Testament. Authors of the Psalms ask for KHEN from God over 40 times. The New Testament writers use the Greek word KHARIS, which means “gracious gift.”  

God is also slow to anger, and his slowness gives us a chance to change. When we do not change, he simply turns us over to the natural consequences of our actions. In addition, unlike human anger, God’s anger is always just. 

God also abounds in loyal love and faithfulness. This love God has for us has nothing to do with our worthiness to receive his love. Rather, it’s about who God is. God IS love. God abounds in loyal love because he is loyal love. God’s love for us is not about our feeling worthy to receive love; God’s love is about God’s character. God also abounds in faithfulness: he is reliable and true and stable. 

When we focus on who God is – compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness – we root ourselves in the truth of his character. Rooting ourselves in his character is the foundation we need to be steadfast during storms. When we remember who God is, we are assured that what he is doing, even if we can’t see it or understand it at the moment, is good. Because God is good.