God is Gracious

by Jon Hathorn on April 07, 2025

“The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” Psalm 145:8

The Bible helps us know who God is and teaches us about His care for us. Did you know there are over 31,000 verses in the Bible? That’s a whole lot of ways to learn about God and to see His heart. Here is one of them. May God use these words in a powerful way in your life today. Take a moment to read this verse slowly. Let it soak in.

“O LORD be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in times of distress.” Isaiah 33:2

What a great prayer. It’s so easy to think, “Oh well, that’s just life. That’s how the cookie crumbles.” This verse reminds us that God doesn’t just give us saving grace, He gives us daily grace for our lives, for the situations, frustrations and trials we encounter.
Earlier in Isaiah we read “the Lord longs to be gracious to us.”
2 Corinthians 9:8 reminds us, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” What an amazing God we have!

Then Isaiah goes on to remind us that God is our strength for each day, including today, and our salvation in times of distress. The reality is we live a broken world, but what a blessing to know that even in this broken world God is our salvation in our times of distress. He never leaves us.

May this powerful truth about our gracious, strength-giving, saving God be on the forefront of your mind today.

About the Author

Jon Hathorn

As I child, I really wanted God to like me and I feared that I wasn't good enough for Him. During high school, I attended church camp. It was there that I realized I was sinner in need of God's grace. I prayed to God, admitting my sin, accepting His death on the cross for my sin, and asking Him to guide my life. I have lived here in Stockton all my life graduating from Delta and UOP, and eventually getting a Master's in Bible and Theology. It was during a mission trip that I met Bev, who became my wife, Our two daughters were born right here in Stockton. I have served the Lord locally in a couple of churches and as a high school Bible Teacher. I love encouraging other people, sharing the Word of God, watching sports, eating Mexican food and spaghetti, spending time with our family and going on walks with our grandson. Philippians 1:6 is the prayer of my life and it says, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ."