The fear of bad news

You've heard of claustrophobia, agoraphobia, and xenophobia (and I'll bet there is even a fear of blogs). But I would say our most prevalent fear is fear of bad news-forever bracing for the other shoe to drop.

The distinction of the righteous man, according to Psalm 112:7, is that he is "not afraid of bad news." This is very good news.

The verse does not say the righteous man will have no bad news, only that he will have no fear of it. It's the fear that eats us up, more than the bad news itself. Bad situations can be borne if taken one minute at a time.

Suffering is bad enough, but constant fear of the next suffering is what is unbearable. The unrighteous live in constant morbid suspense, even in good times ("The wicked flee when no one pursues" - Proverbs 28:1). The righteous live in constant peace, even in bad times ("You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" - Psalm 23:5)

The desert is a given. Both the righteous and the unrighteous find themselves in it. But the righteous finds refreshment at every turn: "He will make it a place of springs" (Psalm 84:6). He will "drink from the brook by the way" (Psalm 110:7). The secret to this is divulged in the second half of the verse: "He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord (Psalm 110:7).

I heard a serene woman say: "I used to think happy days were the calm before the storm. But I am learning to trust God." Oh for courage to trust God's love enough to stop fearing bad news-and to start living in sweet liberty.