Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.

They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

(Psalm 112:1b, 7 NIV)

One of the positive things that can come out of crisis and uncertainty is that it can reveal what we have depended upon for our security.  We may discover that our hope (what we’ve been trusting in perhaps without realizing it) has been in something else rather than God. And when this thing’s existence is threatened or taken away from us, we may panic and become distraught.  But it’s in these times that we can learn how precious our faith is (1 Peter 1:7) and how trustworthy our God is (Psalm 145:13).

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God…”(Psalm 42:11a).   Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled “Christian Happiness,” gives us three reasons why the believer should hope in the Lord and have no fear of bad news.  1. Your bad things will turn out for good (Romans 8:28) 2. Your good things can never be taken away from you (Ephesians 1:3-14) and 3. The best things are yet to come (1 Peter 1:3-5).

So believer, remember that this world is not our home—our citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20). 

“We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Again, why my soul, are you downcast?  Put your hope in God!