Not afraid of evil tidings
“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.”Psalm 112:7
Reflection
We live surrounded by news, and most of it is not good. It is enough to open a phone to receive, in minutes, a summary of crises, tragedies, threats and alarming messages. Or an unexpected phone call, a test result, an email from work. Anxiety over the next "bad news" can settle in without our noticing, leaving the heart in a constant state of alert. Psalm 112 describes the opposite: someone who "shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD."
Notice that the psalm does not say this person will never receive bad news. It arrives for everyone, including those who fear God. The difference lies in the inner reaction: "shall not be afraid". Their heart "is fixed". The word suggests a heart set firmly, anchored, like an anchor dropped to the bottom. Waves may come, but the ship is not dragged away. And the reason for the firmness is stated in the same verse: "trusting in the LORD". The steadiness of the heart does not come from knowing everything will turn out well, but from knowing whom to trust when it does not.
This is not coldness or denial. The steady person feels, weeps, worries, but does not fall apart. They have a place to return to after the shock. And notice the verb tense: the heart "is fixed". This is not a state won at the moment of crisis; it is something prepared beforehand. Whoever has cultivated trust in God in ordinary days has roots for hard days. A steady heart is built in the routine of prayer, of the Word and of gratitude, so that, when bad news strikes, there is already firm ground beneath the feet.
How to practice it today? First, take care of what goes in: perhaps it is time to reduce consumption of news that only feeds anxiety. Second, prepare an anchor phrase for the moment bad news arrives, like "The Lord is in control" or "I trust You". Repeat it when the heart races. And third, strengthen the root: set aside daily time to be with God. A heart fixed and trusting in the Lord is not a gift for a few; it is a training within reach of all.
Prayer
Lord, give me a heart that is fixed, trusting in You. When bad news arrives, may I not be dragged away by fear, but return to You like someone returning home. Help me guard my heart from excess noise and strengthen my roots in Your Word. I trust You. Amen.
Put it into practice
Choose an anchor phrase of trust (for example, "The Lord is in control") and memorize it today. Also, for one day, reduce your consumption of news and social media that only increase anxiety.
To reflect on
When bad news arrives, where does your heart run first: to fear or to the Lord?
Bible text: King James Version (public domain).