When Bad News Comes

We’ve all been there.

You pick up your phone, and there’s a text that shakes you.

A doctor calls with results you weren’t expecting.

Your boss wants to “talk,” and it doesn’t feel like good news.

A loved one makes a decision that leaves you heartbroken.

Bad news can show up in an instant, and suddenly, your mind races to the worst possible outcome. “What if this happens? What if that falls apart? How will I ever get through this?”

It’s human nature to let our minds wander too far into the future, imagining scenarios that haven’t even happened yet.

But can I encourage you with this today?

When bad news comes:

1. Stay in the moment.

Take a deep breath. Remind yourself that right now, in this moment, you are still here, and God is still God. The future hasn’t happened yet, and it belongs to Him.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

2. Give God time and space to work.

Just because you don’t see immediate change doesn’t mean God isn’t moving behind the scenes. He’s arranging, restoring, and redeeming things you don’t even know about.

Psalm 27:14 encourages us: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart.”

God is not on your clock, but He’s always right on time.

3. Believe that God will do His job.

Your job isn’t to figure out every detail. It’s not to carry the weight of the outcome. Your job is to believe. To trust. To hold on to what God promised, even when circumstances say the opposite.

Hebrews 10:23 reminds us, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.”

Whatever bad news you’ve faced — or will face — you’re not alone. Stay in the moment. Give God room to work. And believe that He’ll do His job. He’s never failed you before, and He won’t start now.

Prayer:
Lord, when bad news comes, help me stay in the moment. Keep my mind from running wild with fear. I choose to give You time and space to work, and I trust that You will be faithful to do what only You can do. Strengthen my heart and remind me that no matter what I face, You are with me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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