Psalm 112:7
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
To be unafraid of bad news…is it possible? Is it possible that we could live each day, knowing that bad things may happen and do happen, but be unafraid? Unafraid because we trust in the Lord?
In many ways I find this the hardest concept to grasp, and the hardest concept to explain to non-believers. There is someone in my life who I have always looked to as a guide in my faith walk. After 40 years in a close walk with the Lord, this person no longer believes. He can no longer understand the pain in the world. He can no longer accept that God loves him. He can no longer be unafraid of bad news.
Talking with him last week about some bad news in our life, he said “That is why I am no longer able to believe in God. Why would God allow that to happen?” I was tongue-tied. Somewhere in the cobwebs of my mind I knew what I could say, what I should say to combat this sentence. But I could not come up with it.
At the end of the day, though, no matter what facts/verses/uplifting comments I come up with, I cannot hand him his faith. I cannot write him a greeting card reminding him to stay faithful, to be unafraid of bad news, to have a firm heart, and to trust in the Lord. What I CAN do, is stay firm in MY heart and MY trust in the Lord. This man may have left the Lord, but through my faith, I know that the Lord has not left him.
God…I praise you that you will never leave us, even if our faith is shaken by bad news. I pray that you will guide me through the journey of life, through the good news and the bad, and allow me to always be firm in my heart and firm in my trust in you.