Do not Fear Evil Tidings

August, 2004

by: Lisa Hughes

“Lisa, you need to go to the principal's office,” my fifth grade teacher informed me one day. I left the classroom with sweaty palms, a pounding heart, and my mind racing to recall what I might have done that would have earned the principal's attention. I felt like I had four cotton balls in my mouth instead of a tongue as I reviewed the events of the day, the week, the last month! “What had I done wrong that would make him call me to his office?” I worried. Smiling timidly I walked into his office. I remember he greeted me with an effort at a joke as he gave me some papers my mother needed. That was it? I wasn't in trouble? I was able to manage a big, though slightly shaky smile now. I wasn't in trouble! Nothing was wrong! I had only feared bad news, though I couldn't think of anything I had done wrong. Even now, when I receive a message I am not quite sure of or if someone says they need to talk in a somewhat mysterious manner, I wonder if I have done something wrong and if I am in trouble for some reason. God does not want us to live in fear of bad news and so He explains in the Bible how not to fear evil tidings. Ps. 112:7 says He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Who is this person who is not afraid of bad news, whose heart is at rest as he trusts in the Lord? Ps. 112:1 tells us: “How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.”Prov. 1:33 illuminates this truth further: “But he who listens to me (me = wisdom which comes from God) shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil.” A woman who fears the Lord, who heeds God's wisdom, who delights in obeying God's Word will not fear bad news. Why? Because her thoughts are not on the what if's, they are fastened upon the One who is over all things, over all circumstances, over all events.

The Psalmist explains this process further when he says in Ps. 34:4“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears and When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You” (Ps. 56:3). What we see here is the Psalmist actively putting his faith into practice. For some reason he is afraid, but rather than wallowing and worrying, he turns to the Lord who is great and mighty, who knows our hearts, and is able to deliver us from trouble. Notice that Ps. 112:1 comes before Ps. 112:7. The person who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in God's commandments (vs. 1) will not fear evil tidings with the result that his heart is steadfast and trusting in the Lord (vs. 7). Think on these truths today so that the next time you “get called to the principal's office” you will not fear evil tidings, but will instead find your heart steadfast and trusting in the Lord. “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock” (Is. 26:3-4).