No Fear of Bad News
You drew near on the day I called on You, and said, “Do not fear!” Lamentations 3:57 (NKJV)
We live in a world where chaos and anarchy scream at us from (social) media platforms. A world in which we are conditioned to expect bad news. News that causes fear, angst and foreboding. News that often comes from a world far away. But what if bad news comes up close and personal? We have all, at some point in our lives, had to face bad news – a scary doctor’s diagnosis, retrenchment, a spouse who suddenly leaves, the death of a loved one. Bad news can cause the ground beneath us to shake. It can stop us in our tracks, even paralyse us.
The writer of Psalm 112 gives us good advice on dealing with bad news. This verse sets the stage for the rest of the psalm, including verses 6-8, which we will use to proclaim and pray into. It gives us solid ground to stand on so we can weather bad news.
Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Psalm 112:1 (NIV).
The psalmist begins by praising the Lord. He tells us those who fear the Lord are blessed. The Lord blesses those who are in reverent awe of His power, majesty and glory. He blesses those who delight in doing what pleases Him. He blesses us with His peace, strength and grace. Our omnipotent God, who has made us righteous in Jesus Christ, is with us when we face bad news.
Psalm 112: 6-8 (NIV)
Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Their hearts are secure; they will have no fear; in the end, they will look in triumph on their foes.
The righteous shall never be shaken. What an audacious statement! I don’t know about you, but bad news shakes me up. They make me unsure of the present and the future. They make me wonder how I will make it through just today. I think we can all testify to this. The Psalmist, who I’m sure had his fair share of struggles and trials, says that we don’t need to fear when bad news comes because we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our righteousness is the assurance, the guarantee, that our hearts will be steadfast because the Lord upholds and sustains us. Therefore, we can trust Him. We can hope in Him. Therefore, our hearts can be secure in our faithful, omnipotent, victorious God. He leads us triumphantly in the face of bad news and gives us the victory over Satan’s schemes.
Pray & Proclaim:
Thank You, Lord, that I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, I will not be shaken. Thank You that You are mindful of me. I will have no fear of bad news. My heart is steadfast because You uphold and sustain me. I trust in You. My heart is secure in Your faithfulness and omnipotence. I will not fear because I am victorious in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5 (NKJV)
