Do You Fear Bad News?

They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
Psalm 112:7, NLT*

There’s an article in the current issue of Reader’s Digest that suggests the fear of future scarcity can affect our daily wellbeing. (“Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” by Rosie Ifould, August 2014)

We can end up living in tension, on alert, ready for something bad to happen, whether it’s financial, physical or relational. I’ve seen it in my own life; you likely have as well.

Fear of lack. Fear of loss. It creates an underlying anxiety that leaches away our joy and strength. It diminishes our daily quality of life.

If our vague fear doesn’t materialize, we’ve carried the burden for nothing. And if it does, our strength is too depleted to face it well.

God often allows pain struggles, and we can rarely see why. He’s also the One with the power and desire to carry us through such times. If we can rely on Him, we’ll have stories to tell of the difference He made, of how He met our needs. Of His faithfulness.

Things happen, despite our best care. Other things don’t, either because God intervened or because they were only fear-whispers from the enemy of our souls.

Our best defense is to position ourselves securely in the care of our God and Refuge. We need to draw close to Him and stay close. As we get to know Him, we develop confidence in His character and power, and we learn to delight in living His way.

It’s a life-long process, but the more we do this, the easier it is to do. We see evidence of God’s care and it grows our faith. In those moments when our faith is shaky, we can go back to one of my favourite prayers in the New Testament: “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

God our Shelter in the storms of life, You know our needs and You know the plans You have to work for good in all things. As a shepherd cares for the sheep, please care for us. Help us to recognize Your voice and to trust Your care. When we waver, help our unbelief.

Be encouraged by Brian Doerksen’s song, “Your Faithfulness.”

*New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

 

4 thoughts on “Do You Fear Bad News?

  1. raiseyourgaze

    Thank you for these insightful and probing thoughts, Janet.

    BTW, I found your Bubbles . . . piece interesting and thought-provoking, too.
    I’m glad you and Hubby had a wonderful and safe trip.

    Blessings be multiplied to you both. ~~+~~

    Reply
  2. Elaine Stock

    Janet, excellent and encouraging words. Thank you! I think what many people–both believers and non-believers–have trouble dealing with when it comes to Christianity is the God seemingly allows bad/troubling things to happen in life. And you’ve expressed it so well here. As you’ve reminded us, what we need to do is not to ask Him to make the bad go away so much as it is to ask Him for His help to “carry us” through our difficulties.

    Reply
    1. Janet Sketchley Post author

      That’s one of the biggest hard questions, Elaine. Why would a good God allow horrible things? Here and now, from our limited perspective, we can’t see how much He allows and for what possible reason. What we can see is His character in His word, and that’s what we can cling to. For me, it comes down to the choice to trust Him with the things I don’t understand. He knows more than I do, and I’m sure He has a way to work all things out like He said.

      Reply

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