Dealing With Bad News

They will have no fear of bad news; 

  their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7 

  

  I have a medication that I have taken for years. It is critical to my health. Several manufacturers make the pill, but so far, I have only found one version from one manufacturer that doesn’t make me sick. Thankfully, a local pharmacy has carried that brand for years, but recently when I picked up my prescription, I noticed it was different. The local pharmacy no longer carried the exact medication I depended upon.  

  When you have had many setbacks, and are to the point you expect bad news on a regular basis, a defeated mentality can begin to take over. Disappointments can add up and you begin to feel overwhelmed by the burdens you carry. It is not always the largest challenges that weigh us down, but often an accumulation of small disappointments that push us under with their increasing weight. 

  Bad news needs an antidote. Hope, faith, and encouragement from the Lord, especially through His Word the Holy Bible, these will give us strength to face any bad news whether large or small. 

  We can get fatigued from fighting one battle right after another. We seek rest only to find additional problems and challenges awaiting us. A source of strength is needed. Our first thought should be to go to the Lord in prayer, and then to read His Word. We can also share our burdens with fellow believers who then join us in prayer for solutions to our problems.  

  In all of our challenges, and with every new piece of bad news, we need to present these to the Lord. He is our strength, our deliverer, and the Lord and Master of our life. He will provide. He will make a way. 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, bad news can bring us to our knees with fear and doubt, with worry and dread. Help us to recall the many times You have helped us in the past, and we know that you will help us yet again. We need never fear bad news because You are with us and meet our needs. Amen.