Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
Psalm 112:6–8 NIV
No fear of bad news.
Psalm 112 says this is what characterizes the righteous. But in a world where troubling headlines seem endless and fearful reports come without warning, how is this even possible?
I think many of us know what it’s like for fear to get ahead of us. We receive an unexpected report, and before anything has happened, our minds are already racing ahead, imagining outcomes that haven’t even happened.
Yet Psalm 112 tells us that the righteous respond differently. Notice that the verse doesn’t say they never receive an unfavorable report. It doesn’t say they have all the answers or know exactly how things will turn out. It simply says they do not fear bad news because their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Beloved, the righteous can remain steadfast because their confidence is not in favorable circumstances or in knowing how things will turn out. Their confidence is in the Lord. And because Jesus has made you righteous, this confidence belongs to you as well.
You don’t have to live in expectation of evil or surrender your peace to every negative report you receive. As the righteousness of God in Christ, your heart can remain steady even when circumstances are uncertain. The One who faithfully brought you through yesterday has not changed, and He will not fail you tomorrow.
So when fearful thoughts come and try to tell you how tomorrow will unfold, don’t let them have the final word. Fear doesn’t get to decide how your story ends.
Instead, answer those thoughts with the promises of God. Declare that the Lord is your confidence, that His goodness and mercy are following you all the days of your life, and that the One who has faithfully brought you through yesterday will remain faithful tomorrow.
As you do, you’ll find your heart becoming settled once again, steadfast and trusting in the Lord. Joseph Prince